.
The Best Thing…
What’s the best thing
A man can do
For his children—
Just what is true?
It’s not about
The sports they play.
It’s not about
Their meals each day.
It’s not about
The songs they sing.
It’s surely not
About life’s bling.
It’s not about
A trip to France,
Or how to ask
A girl to dance.
It’s not about
The schools selected.
Nor making sure
Chores aren’t neglected.
It’s not about
Just what to read,
Nor making sure
That they succeed.
The best thing that
A man can do
For his children,
Now this is true:
Love their mother,
And let them see
What love looks like—
This is the key!
.
.
Michael Charles Maibach began writing poems at age nine. Since then he has continued writing poems, and sharing them with friends. His career has involved global business diplomacy. He is a native of Peoria, Illinois. Today Michael resides in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. More of his poems are found at www.MaibachPoems.us or on Facebook.
We need more of that last stanza in the world today.
The last stanza really says it all; in fact, the poem is a little long. However, it’s worth it for the message.
We Catholics love the Virgin Mary because she is the mother of Jesus; how can a man not similarly love his wife just for being the mother of his children—let alone for all the rest?
Loving and honoring their mother, for sure. And also loving and honoring the sacrament of marriage–something that shores up the will to love and serve when human failing threatens damage and destructions.
But these days I wouldn’t be too quick to dismiss the importance of what is read and what schools are selected (admitting that they take a comparatively lower place on the ladder of parental devotion).
This is true. If St. Alphonsus Liguori pointed out that one bad book can destroy a convent of holy nuns, how much more damage can one bad book, let alone a bad school or modern media, do to a Christian family struggling to survive in a world that hates everything they stand for? (Hence my poem “The Stranger.”)
Imagine a world where this (Ephesians 5:25) was taken to heart!
Thank you.
I worked for a man for many years who retired in perfect health went out to shovel snow, and dropped dead. Several days later he returned, in voice only, with advice for his first and second wife, The last thing he said was
‘Love is the most important thing.
The entire congregation at the funeral service was affected biy his wsords.
Good thoughts, Michael – love is the key for all of us! Happy Christmas.
Short and sweet. Very nice poem, Michael.