once

“Once you were not a people,

   but now you are God’s

         people;

once you had not received

         mercy,

   but now you have received

         mercy.” 1 Peter 2:10

when we found

only park benches

for our beds,

   you built a home

   for us in your heart;

when death offered

only bitter wine to drink

and moldy bread to eat,

   you laid out a feast

   of grace and life.

© 2019 Thom M. Shuman