You who are loudly crying out for peace, <br />You who are wanting love to vanquish hate. <br />How is it in the four walls of your home <br />The while you wait? <br /> <br />Do those who form your household welcome your approach in the morning <br />As the earth welcomes the presence of dawn, <br />Or do they dread your coming lest you censure and complain? <br />Do you begin the day with praise to God for each blessing you possess, and do you speak frequent words of commendation to those about you? <br />Do those you claim to love often hear you talking in love's language, <br />Or is your softest tone and your sweetest speech saved for the sometime guest, <br />While the harsh voice and the sharp retort are used with those you love the best? <br /> <br />You who are praying for the Christ's return <br />And for the coming of the Promised Day, <br />How is it in the four walls of your home <br />The while you pray? <br /> <br />Are you trying to make your home a reflection of what you believe heaven will be? <br />Unless you are you will never find heaven anywhere; <br />The foundations of our heavenly mansions must first be built on earth. <br />Unless you are striving to put in use some of the angelic virtues here and now, <br />No angelhood will be accorded you hereafter. <br /> <br /> <br />Unless you are illustrating your desire for peace by a peaceful, love-ruled home, <br />You have no right to clamour for a cessation of hostilities among nations; <br />Nations are only chains of individuals. <br />When each individual expresses nothing but love and peace in his daily life, there will be no more war. <br /> <br />You who are loudly crying out for peace, <br />You who are wanting love to vanquish hate, <br />How is it in the four walls of your home <br />The while you wait?<br /><br />Ella Wheeler Wilcox<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/how-is-it-7/
