Can I really Stretch So Much?

Well it’s been a hard couple of days, a challenging week to be precise.  I lost my temper with a bunny person and cancelled an exchange. I was tired at work and constantly felt behind even though one day I was making work to do. My arm has been sore since I’ve needed to push it as I had rabbit cages to spot clean in the cold before the next snow storm hit.  And then I saw the word prompt and thought, I don’t think I can.  Can I write on this word stretch?   But by early evening Friday I had this poem Can I really stretch so much?

This after a conversation with my lad about we all have our weaknesses, and family can help us work with them.  His weaknesses aren’t anything new to the world, and perhaps, if he were more clear with mom and dad we’d be able to help him better.  Anyways, I’ll let you go read, and I’ve got chores to do. 

Can I really Stretch So Much?

There are times I wonder
do I have what it takes
to stretch and grow
to become something more?

I see it in my lad,
the changes he makes,
a job shaping him,
schooling, education and friends
influencing his life.
Creating change.

I occasionally see it
in my bunnies.
Especially with the littles
I have a bold one in the box
Curiously getting into everything,
but one cage change had him
huddling in the nestbox,
uncertain of his footing.

God calls us to be
be holy as he is holy
to be pure as he is pure.
To be MORE than what we are
and that requires stretching.
A becoming, so to speak.

This week I learned
of friends
a horrible collision.
To be as the lady was
full of grace and charm
so quick to pray
and offer a voice of wisdom.

This, this to me is God
showing himself.
This pushing for perfection
a pushing to be
all that God called her to be.
and now,
now she is no longer
an example to see.
Just one to be remembered.

and I don’t think, 
well that is I often don’t think
I have it in me to stretch so much.

I do offer grace freely
but some people rile my boat
and it’s hard then
to offer grace.

I doubt anyone would call
me charming
but someone with a ready smile
and a willingness to sacrifice
so that others might smile.

But holy? Pure?
Wow… that requires
so much more than I am right now.
I know that God sees
me through the life of Christ.
But still.. some effort is
required on my part.

Can I really stretch so much?
Will spiritual muscles show
in the physical so that others
can see God through me
Like I saw God through my friend?

This today,
this is my struggle.
And right now, I’m
really not so sure.

God’s response

1 Peter 2:9-10

⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.