It Doesn’t Matter
Original 17 May 1987
She nurtured me through cradle time,
I babbled—she replied.
She held me in her arms and rocked
To soothe me when I cried.
She fed and bathed and dressed me warm,
She watched me stand and fall;
And as I learned to say her name,
She came when I would call.
It doesn’t matter who she is—
Queen or president.
What matters is my memory of the
Mother heaven sent.
He held me nights when I was sick
And blessed me to be strong.
As audience, he listened to my
Simple, piano songs.
He lead us in a family prayer
Both morning and at night—
And when I made mistakes
He lead me gently with his light.
It doesn’t matter who he is—
King or president.
What matters is my memory of the
Father heaven sent.
She drove me to activities.
She taught in Primary.
She helped me to love books and took me
To the library.
She sewed my costumes for the plays
She came to sit and watch.
She gave me time when she had none-
I’ll never know how much.
It doesn’t matter who she is—
Queen or president.
What matters is my memory of the
Mother heaven sent.
From carpet tubes, he made lights for
A dance he chaperoned.
I learned to shun the practices
That he did not condone.
He wrote me letters when I left
To try a college life.
He sent me love and courage to help
Conquer fear and strife.
It doesn’t matter who he is—
King or president.
What matters is my memory of the
Father heaven sent.
She came to see me graduate.
She sewed my wedding dress.
When Meg was born, she came to love
And clean a baby’s mess.
She sings with me. We play our flutes.
We talk of future fears.
She brings me gifts and tender care
And comforts, still, my tears.
It doesn’t matter who she is—
Queen or president.
What matters is my memory of the
Mother heaven sent.
He offers timely, sound advise
And gives a father’s blessing—
And he listens calmly when his
Patience I am testing.
He brags about my children and
About the things I do.
He loves me lots, I hope he knows
How much I love him, too.
It doesn’t matter who she is—
Queen or president.
What matters is my memory of the
Mother heaven sent.
It Doesn’t Matter Recap (after 2007 and before 2020)
Today I think about the children
Heaven sent to me—
How we read books and cared for pets and
Climbed up tall, tall trees.
Do they recall the walks we took? and
scriptures that we read?
And how each night I heard them talk as
They were tucked in bed?
It doesn’t matter who I am, Queen or President –
What matters are the memories of the children heaven sent.
When they stand before the Lord
And all their lives review –
Will I, as mother, be revealed
As one who loved them true?
Will they be glad they knew me?
Did they want to be near me?
Because within my eyes they saw
Their own divinity?
It doesn’t matter who I am, Queen or President –
What matters are the memories of the children heaven sent.
