Pieces

once again            
resign myself              
clothe myself              
in dignity expected            
             
once again              
to reconcile            
to compromise            
put on my mask of deference              
             
once again              
I focus            
on the life that is mine            
on the place that I feel I don’t belong              
on people that may have never chosen me              
             
no              
naked              
mourning              
ever            
deemed              
permissible              
             
but...              
             
a part of me was left behind              
a part of me had never been received              
a part of me inside my heart divided              
             
I am in pieces              
instead of whole              
             
my heart has been dismantled             
             
I am in pieces              
instead of whole              
             
my heart defends an enemy              
one inside
closed              
in hiding              
curtains drawn              
covered in my shame              
             
closed              
in dark            
denying light              
to shine upon my failures              
             
closed              
alone              
holding back His hands              
from knitting me              
             
weary now              
the time has come              
to lay my burden down              
             
weary now              
the burden placed              
upon the ground it lays            
             
weary now              
to shield from view              
the burden        
in its state of broken dreams              
             
tenderly              
He gazes at            
the burden of my heart              
             
knowingly              
I’ve clung to it              
envisioned it              
undivided              
whole              
             
assuredly              
He can transform              
the burden into grace            
             
He gathers up my pieces            
time and now again            
             
He interlaces            
interweaves            
mercy with my brokenness            
             
He makes useful every piece of me            
transforms each one with grace            
returns my pieces lost            
to fill my chasms              
bridge my gaps              
connecting love to pain    
                
             
         ..................................  
   
 “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”  
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:10  
   
“He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. He counts the stars and calls them all by name. How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!”  
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭147:3-5‬ ‭  
   
“Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”  
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:23-24  
   
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”  
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:20‬    
   
“For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.”  
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:29-30‬ ‭