December 31st

“When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well?’”  John 5:6

do we want

to keep gnawing

on the bitterness

in our hearts, or

let it be transformed

into grace for others;

do we want

to grasp our grudges

so tightly, that our

hands begin to ache

or open our fingers

to let these old hurts

fall to the ground;

do we want

to justify our angry words

by pointing fingers

at those who spoke first,

or listen to the whispers

of healing you breathe

into our ears . . .

well?

© 2019 Thom M. Shuman