On My Bedside

For this month’s book club, we read Footprints of a Pilgrim, a collection of pieces on the life and loves of Ruth Bell Graham.

While the book was far from my favorite reads of all time, sometimes you stumble upon just one passage in a book (or movie, or article, etc.) that really stands out and makes the read remarkably worthwhile.  As I’ve said before, not only do I aim to love, nourish and comfort my boys, but it is my heart’s true desire to send them off into the world as respectful, kind, generous, smart, God loving, thoughtful and courageous men.  I want them to be amazing husbands and doting fathers, and it is my hope that they leave conscious and thoughtful marks on their communities and their world.  So, when I came across this poem, in the words of Ruth Bell Graham, it left me speechless…

He must be so tall when he is on his knees, as one has said, he reaches all the way to Heaven.
His shoulders must be broad enough to bear the burden of a family.
His lips must be strong enough to smile,
firm enough to say no,
and tender enough to kiss.
His love must be so deep that it takes its stand in
Christ and so wide that it takes in the whole world.
He must be big enough to be gentle
and great enough to be thoughtful.
His arms must be strong enough to carry a little child.

Gorgeous, no?  To one day stand before my two grown boys and to be able to say these things about them would undoubtedly be the achievement of my lifetime.

xoxo