Stepping on Flowers

Monday Missive #35

A Poem: Stepping on Flowers

I’m afraid of stepping
On flowers unseen,
Smashing their scent,
Breaking their beauty.
It’s strange that
The Creator
Encases beauty in
Something so fragile,
So delicate,
So precious.

Humans are
Beautiful,
Fragile,
Delicate,
Precious.
Like flowers.
How often do we
Step on them,
Not caring,
Not listening,
Breaking their beauty;
Not recognizing,
They are made 
In the image
Of our Creator.

A Prayer: Forgive Me For Not Seeing

Lord, forgive me
For not seeing
Beyond the externals;
For not recognizing
The pain of others;
Forgotten hope,
Housed in hurt,
Waiting for someone,
To listen,
To care.

Lord, make me like Jesus,
Seeing into people’s hearts,
Hearing their pain,
Touching their life,
Sharing the hope,
Found only in you.

A Passage: For Reflection This Week

Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' 

"Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?' 

"And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'
-- Matthew 25:34-40 NLT