The Measure of Greatness

What is the measure of greatness?
What is the measure of success?
Is it fame and recognition?
Is it fine and expensive dress?
No. It is having a place to call home
At the end of a long day,
Where family come to visit,
And children love to play.
It is cultivating a garden
That blooms by love alone,
Surrounding the humble place
Simply known as “Home.”

What is the measure of greatness?
It is not wealth of jewels and gold.
It is having people to love you
Even as you grow old.
It’s every flower you’ve ever planted
And watered with tender care.
It’s the times you’ve held a child’s hand,
Or patted a child’s hair.

Greatness is measured by kindness,
By deeds small and great,
Quiet services rendered
For someone else’s sake.
It’s taking children on walks
To get the mail at the General Store,
And sending love in letters
With poems, doodles, and more.

Greatness is measured by goodness
And quiet actions of faith.
It’s attending church on the Sabbath
And never ceasing to pray.
Greatness is not of the world.
Greatness is not fame.
It is being a mother and grandmother,
The most beautiful of names.
-Shawnee

(In loving memory of Grandma Carol Helm)