Still Will He Hold

 Still Will He Hold 11/4/12

All alone within the corner

Too ashamed to even pray.

The tears fall warm and heavy-

I long to simply run away.

How could I have done that?

Will He love me even still?

I turn, now harmed and broken.

Oh I've fallen from His will.

The pain within my anguish

Curls inside me as I cry.

Now truly I have failed Him,

Mocking words. I long to die.

The figure of my Master,

I know His presence very well.

We have walked through paths of laughter.

I'm ashamed how far I fell.

I try to hide within my corner.

Steadily He's drawing near.

In the midst of tears so many,

I can't even see Him clear.

Then a hand falls to my shoulder.

I wait for words of angry scorn.

But instead I hear the words,

“Child draw nearer and get warm.”

He leads me to the fire.

I shy away from the light.

Now He can fully see it.

I want to hide within the night.

I linger for His judgment,

Believing now He'll cast me down.

How can He forgive me

When I've muddied my white gown?

His eyes meet mine gently;

Kind hands wipe tears away.

“Oh little one, I love you.

Let me take the burden away.”

“But why would You take it?

Can't You see what I have done?

You used to call me friend,

But I've spit upon Your Son.”

There's pain within His look now.

“Oh child, do you still not know?”

He pulls me to His chest.

“For you I've bled and been made low.”

“How then do You love me?

If I'm the cause of Your pain?”

I do not understand this.

My look falls to my new stain.

“Child once You've been forgiven,

I will never let you go.

Turn to me within your sorrow,

Or your burden will yet grow.”

I give to Him the darkness,

His touch turns it white.

The burden I had carried

Is now blessedly light.

“I know that you stumble,

I've seen the things you do.

But no matter how you've fallen,

My blood has made you new.”

He's seen me as I've faltered,

He knows the doubts so bold,

But He reminds that I am growing-

Though I sin, still will He hold.

~ZA

Copyright © 2012 Ophelia M. Flowers