Heart For Home Thursday~ With Love

I probably should have started here last week. Because the more I live life I am more and more convinced that nothing, no NOTHING is of value without love.  I know this is not a suprise or anything new.  Remember 1 Corinthians 13?  It lays it all out pretty clearly and with much more authority than I have.  I still felt that I needed to cover this as I start out on this Heart For Home venture. 

Love has the ability to radically change my whole world.  When my own selfishness is controlling my thought life, everything from an ill-timed haircut,  a baby covered in lunch head to toe, or silly song being sung over and over and over is enough to drive me batty and to make me feel sooooo sorry for myself.  When my focus is on loving those around me though, everything is different.  Suddenly cutting my husband's hair is a priviledge, cleaning Spaghetti O's out of my child's hair is a fun bubble bath and the sweet singing voice is a delight, or at least entertaining! 

God's love for us is the most compelling and life-changing example that we have to follow.  He who gave everything, when we had absolutely nothing to give back.  And the wonderful thing about loving like that is that the rewards that follow are truly beautiful.  Life is abundant and rich.  Our homes are running over with joy.  But it is soooooo easy to loose focus!

I've been reading the Duggar's new book and in it was included this poem. No author was included so I'm not sure who wrote it, but a few chunks of it really grabbed my heart and made me realize how my priorities have been slipping.

LOVE

If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in it's place, but have not love- I am a housekeeper, not a homemaker.
If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative acheivements, but have not love- my children learn of cleanliness, not godliness.

Love leaves the dust in search of a child's laugh.

Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window.

Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk.

Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.

Love is present through trials.

Love reprinmands, reproves, and is responsive.

As a mother there is much I must teach my child, but the greatest of all is... LOVE.

Somehow, it's the times when I am most focused on ordering my home, having meals well planned and promptly and simply keeping my home running smoothly and effectively that I forget my focus of love and slip into selfish, easily angered attitudes.  As we look into ways to turn our hearts to our homes, let's encourage each other to keep the heart of love in what ever we do!