The Heart of the Home (a Poem)

Motherhood—whether through birth, adoption, or spiritual care—is a sacred calling and vocation. It reflects God’s character in a variety of ways. We recognize that we live in a time when this calling is often overlooked, downplayed, or treated as less significant than other vocations. But in the eyes of God, it is noble, vital, and eternally impactful. Below is a poem dedicated to my wife and my own mother, but also an attempt to elevate this calling as God sees it.  As men are called to be the head of the home, women are the heart of the home— and this poem is for them.

The subject—
A masterpiece of majesty
Only heaven knows
Timeless truth commands
To rise and commend—
—now, in poetry:

The home—
Lofty in God’s design;
A wonder of the world
A haven for the weary
A sanctuary of praise 
—for God’s glory to shine 

The home—
Strategic for the fight;
A hub for Gospel training
A school for truth and virtue
A workshop for the archer
—to send arrows into flight 

The home—
To neglect at great dismay;
A head for vision and focus
A heart for nurture and love
A working together of both
—in wisdom, complementary 

The heart—
Endowed at the center;
Laboring in secret
Quiet and unseen
God’s smile it brings
—we do well to remember

The heart—
The art of livelihood;
Four chambers to explore
A simile of strength
Two images blended
— a mosaic of motherhood 

The heart—
Like a tree
By her branches, nourished
Vitality to all
Dependent on her might
—Giving life, sacrificially

The heart—
Like the sun
By her warmth, a guide
A necessary presence
Her merciful course
—Faithfully, she runs 

The heart—
Like a pillar
Her support, beauty to behold
Her burden, beauty she upholds
The image of God
—Wonderfully, she mirrors

The heart—
Like a refrain
Steady, safety she brings
Power in predictability—
Comfort from her lyrics 
—a gift, thankfully gained


In honor of Mother’s Day, this poem was read aloud on Sunday, May 11th at King’s Hill Church.