Wisdom for Wednesdays

Grace was in all her steps, heav'n in her eye,

In every gesture dignity and love.

 

-John Milton, poet

The Glass Heart

Once upon a time there was
A beautiful glass heart
Unequaled in shine and sparkle
Truly a work of art.

Many looked upon the heart
And were awestruck and amazed
At the beauty and the glory
Coming from its rays.

One day a wise old man appeared
At this famous heart to look
His face held disapproval
And his head he sadly shook.

Do they not see, dear heart of glass
Your beauty is so cold
Your glorious walls of glass are sharp
And trap you with their hold.

The room then shook and off its perch
Glass heart fell to the ground
Shattered pieces filled the air
People gasped--then not a sound.

Hesitant, they now crept forward
Filled with curiosity
The walls of glass had broken
Inside what could there be.

The old man gently knelt beside
And cradled in his hand
A living, breathing, human heart
They began to understand.

Though bleeding from the shattered glass
And bruised from such a fall
The heart was now set free at last
From its false and captive wall.

Warm flesh instead of walls so cold
Beating, no longer still
Its beauty was a different kind
Loving, humble, real.

The old man smiled with joy and peace
As he saw they understood
The lesson of the broken heart
From pain there can come good.

Sometimes in life we lose our hold
The ground below us shakes
We sin, we bleed, we cry, we bruise
We fall and even break

But never doubt that through it all
Reaching out to me and you
Is the One who lifts us from the pieces
To heal and to make new.

-LRM

Setting Captives Free

Long ago, your people Israel
Cried to you in chains
God above, please set us free
From our bondage and our pain.

You heard their cry, You felt their pain
You led them faithfully
Despite their sin, you showered mercy
You set the captives free.

Years later, your Son came down to earth
He taught, and healed, and loved
A people still in bondage
But seeking you above.

The lame stood tall, the dead awoke
The blind man learned to see
Healed from sin and suffering
You set the captives free.

Then beneath a heavy cross He walked
Amid the cries and jeers
Of people who did not realize
They had waited for Him for years.

He hung upon this cross for us
Redeeming a world in need
And as the nails held him tight
He set the captives free.

And yet today the chains appear
Enslaved once more we become
To fear, to sin, to worry and doubt
We forget You have already won.

You break the bonds, you offer your hand
Just let them go, you say to me
I watch the shackles fall to the ground
As this captive is set free.

With praise and joy I thank you
And ask that others too may know
The joy and freedom that you give
When we let these burdens go.

Loving Father, Savior, Spirit
Give them eyes of faith to see
You’re a God of unending mercy and love
And You still set captives free.

by Laura@LifeIsBeautiful/Jan2011