Conviction Concerning Compassion

Sadness hid behind her eyes
Filled with struggle, poverty, lies,
Around her--roaches, mildew, mold;
This filth had taken its steady toil.
Her face for His Hope cried.

I asked her, "Are your parents here?"
She closed her eyes; they filled with tears.
"I've never met my dad before;
Mom left me with my aunt at four.
She's been gone for three years."

Her frame shook with fear and shame
She turned away to hide her pain.
I wanted to hug her though it wouldn't do much
But she pulled away at my finger's touch
Of her shoulders -- too young for such strain.

I strongly longed to fix her mess.
I could only say, "Come to VBS?"
She took the page and held it tight.
Then suddenly, I saw it -- a flicker of light
Inside her gaze of loneliness.

She spoke with surprise, "You want me to come?
I've never been invited by anyone."
I looked at her face and felt my tears rising
Her path of life and pain realizing
And a part of me tried to run.

So often we run from the truth of their days
Thinking that somehow, it'll just go away.
We've heard that it happens, we know that it's there,
But we get so caught up with me and my care
That their unreached condition stays.

I looked at her squarely to share with her truth
And said to her, "Yes. Yes! We want to have YOU!
I love you and Jesus loves you, you know"
Her aunt was calling and she'd have to go
But she flashed me a grin and I knew

I wouldn't be running anymore from their pain
For now that I'd seen it I wasn't the same.
I know the compassion that God wants in me
That shows broken people they can be free
Through the power of Jesus' name.

A Smile!

for the Snow family

Heartache,
Confusion,
Stress.

Struggle,
Hardship
Weariness.

Day to day
To day again.
At times it seems
Without an end.
Where is our God?


But then!

A smile!

Yet not one smile
But more.

Nathaniel smiles
The family does, too.
Could times be changing
Could Hope be true?

Yet not these only
Smile
But more
The best of all:
Our Lord.

He smiles
And sings over them.
"Sometimes I have to work within."

"Just because you do not see
My work, still trust in Me.

The outer will come
Soon
In perfect time after the in.
No matter what, I always complete
Each and every work I begin."


Nathaniel smiles
His Healer, too.

All is well.