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Embrace - a poem


In the time of dryness and drought
What could I give you Lord
What could I offer
I am already empty
My hands are all filthy and wounded
My sores are deep and have distorted me
My pockets are empty and torn
I come empty handed and ashamed.

I see people looking at me with eyes of contempt
Useless and wasteful, I am labelled
They close their eyes and nose upon the sight
As I walk to the Father dejected
As I tried my heavy steps ashamed
Nothing to give; nothing to offer
People on either side of the road
In their pompous dresses and richest gifts to the Father

Whereas I come with torn dresses and crushed spirit
With dirty rags and disgusting hands
Smelly feet and downcast eyes
Nothing have I; yet I kept walking
Despite pointing fingers and jeering eyes
Despite harsh and painful words
I dragged myself along
Not sure how I would face Him.

The Father runs to meet me
In His richest and finest garments
He embraced me; says He is glad I am here
Kisses me on my forehead and mine eyes
Says He is excited and proud of me
I lifted my wounded filthy hands
Empty; dejected; dry; ashamed
But He greets me with a smile

Not a contemptuous laughter
Not a sarcastic smile, as was filled in the rest of the hall
But a contentful one: says that's not what I want
But this; and He lifts me up with joy and mirth
And embraces again this sinful self
And in His embrace; I felt complete
What have I done, O Lord to love me, I asked
I didn't have anything to give.

It is not what you can offer dear
I have loved you not seeing what you will bring
I have loved you not seeing how many souls you will win
I have loved you not foreseeing you would love back
I have loved you as you are
I was walking with you, when your heart was heavy
I was carrying you when you couldn't trod
I was cleansing your wounds, when you were filthy

I was always there, when you felt alone and helpless
For I did not leave you alone
Because I am passionately in love with you
And I want to spend eternity with you
That is why, in your lostness and you helplessness
I came to save you; and that is why you are here now
I don't want anything or any gifts or any good work
That you can or cannot offer.

I want you
And then I found myself again in His embrace
Healed, cleansed, filled, made complete
Content - For eternity is mine; to be in this embrace 

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