The List by Esther Headings

I made my list of things to do,
So much to be done before the day is through!
I wrote: Kitchen floor has got to be mopped,
And weeds in the garden have got to be chopped!

Sit down and sew for an hour or two,
Write a few letters long overdue!
Finish the laundry from yesterday,
Wash and dry dishes and put them away.

Of course, there is breakfast, then dinner to make.
Bake some cookies or maybe a cake?
But in all the things I had to get done,
There were a few things I didn't count on.

There was Baby to rock in the rocking chair,
Kiss his sweet cheeks, feel his soft hair.
Help little brother clean up his mess,
Speak a kind word, give a caress.

A problem to solve between toddlers at play,
They come up so often every day.
Open the door for the children to go out,
Stand there and watch them run and shout.

At the end of the day I looked over my list,
So many duties that I had missed!
Half of the laundry still hung on the line,
The weeds in the garden are still doing fine!

The sewing machine sat idle all day,
At least the dishes are out of the way.
Even though the day went by so fast,
Some things I've done will always last.

The Bible story I took time to tell,
The prayer that we shared when a little one fell.
The gentle smile and the kind work I spoke
When my favorite dish was dropped and broke.

Sometimes it takes far more than the rod
To point little precious souls to God.
My list will be crumpled and thrown away.
I've had little children to love today!

So, now this morning I make a new list,
Toys to play with, cheeks to be kissed.
Make this day for the children fun,
And anything extra I manage to get done.

This has been so encouraging to me. I get so caught up with everything that HAS to be done I forget about what NEEDS to be done. If my floor isn't mopped but I have had a joyful day with my children then that is a successful day!

I have to go finish dinner, that is a need! :0)