The Hand that Rocks the Cradle

Too often, a mother's influence is underrated. We cannot be reminded often enough that "the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world." It is the mother who through modeling behavior forms a child's attitudes and beliefs. This poem says it all. 

The Hand That Rocks The Cradle

Is The Hand That Rules The World

Blessings on the hand of women!

Angels guard its strength and grace,

In the palace, cottage, hovel,

Oh, no matter where the place;

Would that never storms assailed it,

Rainbows ever gently curled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

Infancy's the tender fountain,

Power may with beauty flow,

Mother's first to guide the streamlets,

From them souls unresting grow--

Grow on for the good or evil,

Sunshine streamed or evil hurled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

Woman, how divine your mission

Here upon our natal sod!

Keep, oh, keep the young heart open

Always to the breath of God!

All true trophies of the ages

Are from mother-love impearled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

Blessings on the hand of women!

Fathers, sons, and daughters cry,

And the sacred song is mingled

With the worship in the sky--

Mingles where no tempest darkens,

Rainbows evermore are hurled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

William Ross Wallace

God commands that "older women are to teach the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children, and to be keepers of the home." It must not come naturally if God must command it. For some of us, it must be an act of the will. And what is this "be keepers of the home" business? 

Let me take you to another meaning of the word keeper. Think of a light house keeper who maintains the light so that ships will not crash against the rocks. That "keeper" keeps the home fires burning. A keep of a castle was always the strongest or central tower of a castle, acting as a final refuge. That, mothers, is what you are. Never, ever, see this as demeaning. It is exalting.

1. 
   

verb

verb: keep; 3rd person present: keeps; past tense: kept; past participle: kept; gerund or present participle: keeping

1. 1. 

   have or retain possession of.

   "my father would keep the best for himself"

   • retain or reserve for use in the future.

     "return one copy to me, keeping the other for your files"

     synonyms:

     retain, hold on to, keep hold of, retain possession of, keep possession of, not part with; More

     antonyms:

     throw away, lose

   • put or store in a regular place.

     "the stand where her umbrella was kept"

     synonyms:

     store, house, stow, put (away), place, deposit "that's where we keep the linen"

   • retain one's place in or on (a seat or saddle, the ground, etc.) against opposition or difficulty.

     "are you able to keep your saddle?"
   • delay or detain; cause to be late.

     "I won't keep you; I know you've got a busy evening"

     synonyms:

     detain, keep waiting, delay, hold up, retard, slow down "I won't keep you long"

2. 2. 

   continue or cause to continue in a specified condition, position, course, etc.

   "she could have had some boyfriend she kept quiet about"

   synonyms:

   remain, continue to be, stay, carry on being, persist in being "I tried to keep calm"

   • continue doing or do repeatedly or habitually.

     "he keeps going on about the murder"

     synonyms:

     persist in, keep on, carry on, continue, do something constantly "he keeps talking about the Super Bowl"

     antonyms:

     stop, give up

   • (of a perishable commodity) remain in good condition.

     "fresh ginger does not keep well"
   • make (someone) do something for a period of time.

     "I have kept her waiting too long"
   • archaic

     continue to follow (a way, path, or course).

     "the friars and soldiers removed, keeping their course toward Jericho"
3. 3. 

   provide for the sustenance of (someone).

   "he had to keep his large family in the manner he had chosen"

   • provide (someone) with a regular supply of a commodity.

     "the money should keep him in cigarettes for a week"
   • own and look after (an animal) for pleasure or profit.

     synonyms:

     breed, rear, raise, farm; More

   • own and manage (a shop or business).
   • guard; protect.

     "his only thought is to keep the boy from harm"

     synonyms:

     look after, care for, take care of, mind, watch over; More

     antonyms:

     neglect, endanger

   • support (someone, especially a woman) financially in return for sexual favors.

     "a kept woman"
   • act as a goalkeeper.
4. 4. 

   honor or fulfill (a commitment or undertaking).

   "I'll keep my promise, naturally"

   synonyms:

   comply with, obey, observe, conform to, abide by, adhere to, stick to, heed, follow;More

   antonyms:

   disobey, break

   • observe (a religious occasion) in the prescribed manner.

     "today's consumers do not keep the Sabbath"
   • pay due regard to (a law or custom).
5. 5. 

   make written entries in (a diary) on a regular basis.

   "the master kept a weekly journal"

   • write down as (a record).

     "keep a note of the whereabouts of each item"

noun

noun: keep; plural noun: keeps

1. 1. 

   food, clothes, and other essentials for living.

   "working overtime to earn his keep"

   synonyms:

   maintenance, upkeep, sustenance, board, room and board, lodging, food, livelihood "money to pay for his keep"

   • the cost of basic living essentials.
2. 2. 

   archaic

   charge; control.

   "if from shepherd's keep a lamb strayed far"
3. 3. 

   the strongest or central tower of a castle, acting as a final refuge.

1. So, God bless you mothers to keep the charge entrusted to you.