EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT
The problem is that I
cannot distinguish a good gift from a bad one.
Fever seemed bad, until it saved my life.
Half-deafness seemed bad, until it taught me to listen.
Her cancer seemed bad, until it yielded poems.
The fights—oh, the fights!—seemed awful, until you and I,
We held hands that July afternoon.
When a manila envelope appeared in my mailbox
with no name from someone full of hate
I shrugged and threw it away.
Perfect.
Perhaps we need to accept everything as a good gift even if it seems bad and we have to claw through the wrapping. (Pondering those last lines.) Love to you.
thank you for sharing this poem. it ministered to me, and it seemed to remind me that there was great art produced from the context of the death camps — good art from cauldron human hate. anyway, we cannot please everyone, nor should we try. (luke 6:26)
is blessing
being content
in all
with Him
humility
Love?
are we
blessed
when
people
hate?
opportunity
to
share
Him
to
give
true
Love…
is that
blessing?
i think
it can be.
So…
when
we ask for God’s blessing
what
are we really asking for?
So good, Nancy! Yes, that’s exactly what I was pondering.
I always think of Ma Ingalls saying “There is no great loss without some small gain.” I think if is what we do with what we’ve been given that makes the difference. Really like this Megan.
Love that Ma Ingalls quote, Linda!
Holding hands after the fights–you know, I don’t get poetry, but that sure seems like it right there. Powerful stuff.
Hate mail? Seriously? Clearly they’ve never met you.
Although I love the poem, I simply cannot imagine anyone sending you hate mail
And all you can do is throw it away with a blessing for the one who cannot see the loveliness of you.
Hugs and blessings Megan — your beauty shimmers in your words
Great idea to respond with poetry. (Poetry is so multi-purpose, isn’t it?)
Send me your snail mail address, and I’ll send you a manila envelope full of something else. 🙂
you want me to come open a can o’ manilla Whoop?