August 9th

“Then he took a little child and put it among them, and taking it in his arms he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” Mark 9:36-37

that runt of the litter
who escapes every eye,
the wiggle-worm who
wears everyone out,
the shy, sit-in-the-corner
one who never says a word—
those are the ones
Jesus scoops up, placing
them right in the middle
of our petty squabbles,
right in the spot where
we draw a line, daring
all others to cross,
right in the line of sight
so everybody sees them,
as he reminds us,
‘the snot dripping kid,
the non-stop questioner,
the fraidy cat who looks
without ever leaping?
those are the ones who,
if you dare to welcome them,
you will crack open your soul
just enough
for God to slip in.

(c) 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo:@Thom-Shuman