As a child, 

her understanding of love 

was affection and adoration.

She only knew 

what was given to her.

Dependent on her mother and father to care and provide. 

She grew strong

As did her understanding of love 

when she began to learn pain.

Pain was confusing, 

Unsettling. 

Disturbing,

uncomfortable. 

It sent tears streaming down her face. 

It crushed her innocence and 

built walls inside;

Hiding the sweet passions of her youth 

deep into the abyss of her fragile heart.

As she grew, 

She watched the world around her 

seemingly more and more weary,

losing hope.

The heaviness weighed down on her, pressing onto 

HER joy

HER hope.

It brought her to question why,

Why is there pain? 

Pain did not belong.

We were not meant to be in pain.

Pain was birthed from Hate,

And Hate was and is a devouring Beast 

Whose tools are guilt and shame. 

Yet,

Through her pain,

She could comprehend Love.

For

Love 

Took a beating for her.

Love 

Bore her suffering 

So she would be saved.

Love 

Pursued her 

Though she could not find reason

Love 

Knocked on the walls of her heart,

Waiting to embrace all the brokenness inside.

Love 

Never failed her.

Love 

Never gave up.

Love 

Was and is 

relentless.

Yes, Love was and is existent.

And yet, 

pain is also.

She began to understand,

this is not her home. 

She does not belong 

Here.

But, 

There.

There 

is a kingdom

where the redeemed,

the broken made whole,

live forever 

In harmony 

In eternal peace.

Her home is there.

There.

Where there is no pain,

Only love.

And Endless joy spills out.

And men and women stand alike,

Untainted.

Perfect.

Living as they were designed to live.

And while she waits for the day to come home,

She stays focused and secured-

Amidst chaos.

Because her heart knows,

She will

Be home

Soon. 

...she will be home. Soon.

Oh. 

But here and now.......?

There is more to this chaos. 

There are choices. 

Choices everyday 

that bring her from where she is

to where she will be.

And the voices.

Voices in her head

Telling which way is right

Does she listen?

Wait, who’s speaking?

Is it "me" ?

The one who knows with limitation.

Having it all figured out, 

With careful calculation. Misrepresentation of the Love she’s come to know.

Who’s speaking. 

Is it You?.....

The One.

The Only One 

Who knows all 

and loves all.

It is You.

You want me Home. With You. 

Here, and now.

And you say,

“No matter the map you’ve made; scribbled paths drawn out to avoid any possible pain. 

Toss your worries to the wind!!! 

Take hold of My rest, weary child. 

O, my love. 

Home. Is here, and now. 

Not a far off place to seek and search to struggle to find. 

Your home is in Me. 

I am. Everything. 

Everything you need is Me. 

Choose Me.”

Oh, look what she’s been through.

Times of dreaming, 

Times of rain.

Times of waiting and pain. 

All these years, what she's most longed for was right here. 

You waited until she realized, 

With a love that supersedes time...

In this time between hope and unveiled promise, I choose You.