Barbara Bush and Quantalane Henry are pictured at an event in Washington, D.C., in October 1993. (Courtesy photo)

“The hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world.”

That’s according to William Ross Wallace, who wrote the poem “What Rules The World” in 1865 and who believed that motherhood was the pre-eminent force for change in the world.

Without a doubt, Barbara Bush rocked the cradle — six to be exact — and ruled the world during her 92 years. Barbara Bush belonged to the same, small club that included Rose Kennedy, who birthed 12 children and saw her second oldest son become president of the United States and her third oldest son become the attorney general.

Mrs. Bush not only served as the second lady to her husband, George H. Bush, when he was the vice president under President Ronald Reagan for eight years, she also served her country as first lady when her husband became the 41st president of the United States.

As matriarchs of two political American dynasties, Mrs. Kennedy and Mrs. Bush loved, supported and nurtured their sons to reach the highest elective office in the land and become the most powerful men in the Western Hemisphere during their respective administrations.

Barbara Bush and her husband were privileged to see their first born child, George W. Bush, ascend from governor of Texas to president of the United States. And with another president in the family, Barbara Bush joined Abigail Adams, wife of the second president, John Adams, as the only first lady who was also a mother to a president. And then, Mrs. Bush was in a league all by herself. Abigail Adams never saw her son, President John Quincy Adams, inaugurated as president, having died about six years before the auspicious event.

On Oct. 16, 1993, while working as a reporter on Capitol Hill for McClendon News Service in Washington D.C., where I lived and worked for 10 years, I had the opportunity to meet Barbara Bush. As the guest speaker for the “Real Heroes” event sponsored by the coffee giant Maxwell House, Mrs. Bush highlighted each “ordinary” honoree who, through their accomplishments in making tremendous differences in the lives of people, became “extraordinary” human beings, improving their communities and society in general. The event, held at the National Postal Museum, was closed to the public.

I watched as Sarah McClendon, Tyler native and owner of her own news service, greeted Mrs. Bush and how excited the former first lady was to see Mrs. McClendon, who, at that time, had covered 11 U.S. presidents as a White House correspondent for almost 50 years.

And then, it was my turn to meet the former first lady. I reached out to shake her hand and she enthusiastically grabbed mine, while making eye contact with me and showing that lovely smile I had seen on television and in print media for years.

I remember complimenting her on her outstanding work on improving literacy in the United States. I shared with her my love for reading that began when I was a child and my active participation in RIF: Reading Is FUNdamental, a national campaign that was sponsored by the local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. in Tyler and distributed books to me and other children in the community twice per month.

Easily engaging, I knew that I could have spoken to her much longer and asked many questions about the progress of her literacy program since she left the White House.

She was delighted to take photos. My photograph with Mrs. Bush in her red dress and those signature three-strand pearls is very special to me because I understand, as an educator and an avid reader, the importance of literacy in our community and in our world if our society is to progress.

Barbara Bush knew that everyone needed to be literate if they were to achieve in life.

“The American Dream is about equal opportunity for everyone who works hard,” Mrs. Bush said during her lifetime. “If we don’t give everyone the ability to simply read and write, then we aren’t giving everyone an equal chance to succeed.”

After serving as first lady, Mrs. Bush continued her mission — extending literacy to another level. Through the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, Mrs. Bush focused on how literacy had the power to prevent diseases such as HIV/AIDS and widespread societal challenges such as homelessness. With the click of a button today, anyone can become knowledgeable about any subject in a matter of minutes. But he or she must be able to read.

Indeed, “knowledge is power.” I truly believe that when one knows better, he or she can then do better. Barbara Bush knew this to be true. She believed that literacy should be a family affair and when children read along with their parents and then to their parents not only is literacy improved but the family bond is strengthened.

Of course, family was the No. 1 priority for Mrs. Bush. Her love and support of her husband was continuous through all of his career moves as oil company owner, to congressman, ambassador to the United Nations, to the director of the CIA. When her children were younger, it is documented that the Bush family moved 29 times. How did she do it?

For sure, Barbara Bush “rocked the cradle and ruled the world” while she was in it, proving that women are forces of nature who possess power and influence that can shape the destiny of those around them.

Quantalane Henry is an educator, journalist and evangelist & founder of Break-The-Chains Deliverance Ministries. She can be reached at henryquantalane@gmail.com.