Trust
The child reaches up and takes his father's hand
full of trust
full of love
knowing fully
that the strong hand will grasp his own
that he is loved
But in the next moment
the child cries out in pain
evil has struck innocence
broken the trust
scarred the soul
rent the heart with fears
"Take my hand,"
the father reaches out to the child
but the child only sits there, shakes his head
tears in his eyes
"I can't,"
he says
His arm is broken
unable to reach
unable to take hold of the strong hand he once clung to with complete trust
his heart is broken too
unable to understand
the love that stood beside him in that moment
You held my hand within Yours while we walked
and my heart too
I knew that I was safe
I knew that I was loved
that You would not let go
but I no longer feel Your strong hand about my own
Evil has struck
evil has won
I am too weak
I am too afraid
I am broken
I cry in anguish, my heart burns with pain
"Trust Me,"
You ask
but I cannot
but don't leave, don't let me go
You must reach out both hands this time and lift me up
and carry me in Your arms
***
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
and wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on the earth, good-will to men."
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow