God Runs Grandma's House

We asked her why
She takes everyone in

Two bedrooms
And she's got
People on the floor
In both of them

People she don't know
Strangers, could be crazy
Probably crazy

She just says--

'Kids, I'm crazy too
And I don't want those people
But I don't run this house'

God runs Grandma's house

She takes in cats
And dogs, and plants
And decorates her living room
With exotic fish

Never met a stray
She couldn't find a bowl for
And those bowls got the name of their stray
Painted on the side
Personally done
By her

We ask her when she became
Such an animal lover

And she says--

'Kids, I don't particularly like animals
But those animals need a home
And that home is going to be mine
Whether I like it or not
Because I don't run this house'

God runs Grandma's house

Every Friday night
Grandma makes dinner
For whoever happens to be in the neighborhood

She cooks all day
And piles the food on plates
And ships it out
Or sets it down

And people sit and eat and talk
And some stay to help with dishes
And some just take off

And we ask Grandma if she minds
All that cooking and dish washing

And she says--

'Kids, I hate cooking and I hate washing dishes.
And to be honest with you,
I don't like having company too much either.
If I had my way I'd have a nice quiet house
But I don't run this house'

God runs Grandma's house

Grandma don't allow television in her house
Or cell phones or IPOD's
Or technology of any kind

She likes talking and laughing
And arguing if you have to
But no zoning out
To check e-mail
On a Blackberry

We get mad at her
And tell her
We need to stay
Up-to-date

And she says--

'Kids, I really don't care what you do.
I don't care if you watch tv
Or drink or swear
Or stay up-to-date
Or stay out of life.

If I ran this house, you could avoid talking to me
And everyone else here
But I don't run this house'

God runs Grandma's house

Every weekend, we go to Grandma's house
And she lets us run around
And have pillow fights
And stay up late
And be kids

Even though we're starting to get too old

Too old to be kids
Too old for pillow fights
Too old to stay at Grandma's
For the weekend

And now that we're getting older
And we understand
What it means to have a house full of kids
And strangers and plants
And food and conversation
And keep it all going

We ask her how she does it

And she says--

'Kids, I don't do it.
I'm sure I couldn't if I tried.
If it were up to me
I'd lock the doors
And not let anyone in.

But I don't run this house'

God runs Grandma's house

And she says--

'It's warm in here
And there's food
And a roof
And people who love each other

Because God runs this house

And I can't think of anywhere else
That I'd wanna live'