STAINS

The stains we leave behind

Remain forever tarnished

Selfish acts of anger

Impersonal interaction

Unkind words

Insensitive deeds

Blind social pantomime

Horrid mob persecution

Emotional abuse

So often worse than physical assault

Callous hearts within us

Hardened by years of narcissism

Swollen egos

Maim and kill with silent precision

Strange how being miserable

Seems to be our favorite gig

Somehow we fail to notice

Perhaps disregard

The beauty of simplicity

Joyful angels who surround our gloomy malice

Brilliant beacons

Bursting through the blackness

I stand before you guilty

Of all these human frailties

Pompous prior arrogance

Once an evil man

No remorse can undo these past sinful ways

Erase extensive scars

Souls of stone

Can only be softened by grace

Precious free gift of redemption

Righteous transformation

To truly live the example

Gentle guidance from our Savior Jesus Christ

A daily challenge indeed

But priceless and eternal

Forgiven am I by He

And hopefully by those whom I have harmed along the way

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2006