Into my father You breathed his soul.
Mother and father passed that gift to me.
I was stitched in her womb and brought to be.
Through him and through her I knew Your love,
Who You are was still unknown to me.
They told me Your name and I dimly could see.
Through them I heard Your name.
The seed was implanted in my heart.
Like my Exemplar, I got my start.
I grew in knowledge and stature.
I learned about the ark.
I learned about Your glory, though still in the dark.
Satan worked his dark magic.
My friends steered me away.
The world kept leading me astray.
A newly-known darkness began to engulf me.
It had been there, unobserved.
Until finally it had form and left me unnerved.
I made a decision of great consequence.
I made a promise, soaking wet.
One I promised I would never forget.
My vow was frail and still needed milk.
But I forged onward into the world.
And my selfish desires unfurled.
I failed.
I failed again.
Darkness surrounds me.
My promises broken.
The light had dimmed.
I was worthless.
I was lost.
She was a beacon of hope and helped me see Him again.
I blinded myself to His essence.
With wet cheeks, gave my acquiescence.
I promised to her and all who were there.
That bride you sent me to make me whole.
I should mirror the Exemplar in my soul.
My heart learned the meaning of warmth and love.
My soul learned of righteous devotion.
And finally looked beyond mere emotion.
Satan kept trying, but his ugliness I finally saw.
Past foolishness tried to pull me back into the mire.
But it was now only for heavenly treasures I inquire.
Breath of life passed from me into my own daughter.
My Father’s love I more fully understood.
And how it was for others that I should live for the Good.
This realm’s ruler, the evil one, I now see.
His ploys to destroy me are thinly disguised.
He whom I come to despise.
My joy is with my Father.
I long to see His face.
I understand what Paul would gain by leaving this place.
I long for glory when breath returns to Him.
In this valley of shadow, His gifts of grace alone sustain.
And one day, my breath gone, I will leave this mortal plain.
Praise Him in all His glory!
Lance Byers