To love a child

If I live in a house of spotless beautywith everything in its place,but have not love,I am a housekeeper--not a homemaker.
If I have time for waxing,polishing, and decorative achievements,but have not love,my children learn cleanliness--not godliness.
Love leaves the dustin search of a child's laugh.Love smiles at the tiny fingerprintson a newly cleaned window.Love wipes away the tearsbefore it wipes up the spilled milk.Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.
Love is present through the trials.Love reprimands, reproves, and is responsive.Love crawls with the baby,walks with the toddler, runs with the child,then stands aside to let the youth walk into adulthood.Love is the key that openssalvation's message to a child's heart.
Before I became a motherI took glory in my house of perfection.Now I glory in God's perfection of my child.As a mother, there is much I must teach my child,but the greatest of all is Love.

-- Author Unknown