I have often wondered,
Dearest Lord,
why you love us humans;
why your love pursues us, constantly.
Though we often make mistakes,
and our guilt is always before us;
Your love enfolds us
in the embrace of your arms
like a mother tenderly gathers her children
under her arms,
even so you shield us with your love.
You look at us,
and all you see is your children;
Your beloved children, Lord!
We often betray you;
ignore you
neglect you, and even
work against you.
But you never lose sight,
You do not forget
that we are your children!
You wait and wait,
nudge and nudge
and often, we pay no attention.
Like a mother,
You feel the pain, the agony
for we do not follow the path of life;
we reject your love,
again and again,
and follow the gods that devour us.
Yet, your love is unconditional.
For you reach out – always
You stretch out your arms to hold us,
despite ourselves.
You are just, Dearest Lord,
but your unconditional love
surpasses your justice!
For if you were to mark our guilt,
no one could stand it.
No! Your ways are not our ways,
your thoughts, not our thoughts!
Like our mother,
your patience endures,
but yours, even deeper
for you are God!
You never let go of us,
no matter what we do.
You turn sinners into saints,
You soften hardened hearts
to love and proclaim you with vigor
your gentle touch,
can transform a hoodlum into a sweet dove!
Your ways are not ours;
we judge and measure
ourselves and others
but you know everything
about each person.
For our lives, like a book,
lie open before your eyes and you know
our struggles
our efforts
our pains
our joys
our sorrows
our doubts
deeper than we know them
and from this knowledge
Dearest Lord,
your love,
unconditionally poured out,
flows to and through us,
till we can love
so lavishly as you
so extravagantly
so generously as you,
so unconditionally as you!
Teach us silence,
silence of the soul and heart
so we can simply rest
securely in Your Love!
That is all that matters,
Dearest Lord.
Every other thing is an addition.
You and you alone can fill our hearts
with love that never fades or dies.
Be praised forever. Amen