Take Me Again

They were but a few words softly spoken...
Yet each and every syllable was full of ardent sincerity
No one heard, not one thought.
"Father please, make it hard...
With you, I will stand..."

All alone, yet so crowded in that long hall,
No one imagined that she was in deep prayer
No one heard, no one thought.
"Father please, test me...
Don't make it easy..."

Unconscious of all but one,
She lifted her gaze to Him... she whispered...
Only He heard, only she thought.
"Father please, try me...
Like never before..."

He took her hand without delay,
And took her through trials and hardships
Only He heard, but many saw..
"Father please, hold me tight...
Tighter than ever before..."

Never before had she seen Him so often,
Nor cried on His shoulder dropping such child-like tears
Only He heard, no one saw...
"Father please, give me strength
So I may persevere..."

Now, exactly one year since, she is changed.
She is praying anew, the very same prayer,
He hears, she asks,
"Father please, take me again,
Down a similar path... let it be harder this time,
That, some day, I may be perfect in you."

[.Written on December 27th during
my quiet time at Winter Youth.]