January 19th

“The Lord upholds all who are falling,
     and raises up all who are bowed down.” Psalm 145:14

the Old Book reminds us
of the hand beneath the falling,
of a shoulder for those
weighed down by injustice—
a promise heard by Martin,
who believed God’s strength
can be seen in a wearied people
linking arms for justice,
could be heard in the feet
never too sore to march.
for God picks up the fallen,
not by gaslighting the weight
but by sharing it,
not with boasting or bravado
but with bread,
not with taunts of hate
but with songs carried
from the jails of the powerful,
not with false promises
but with shared hopes
and a dream whispered
until it learned how to walk.
bruised bodies and weary souls
are upheld when justice is practiced daily,
when love refuses
to give up a seat to hate,
when grace bends down
to proclaim, ‘you are not alone.’
rise,
we will stand together.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman