The first sermon I hear
Pierces straight to my heart,
I know I need to hear more from you
                                                                    -and you from me-
On the odds you have the answers I seek.

The pain I speak weighs on me invisible:
A burden I have carried for years,
No time for rest,
No break to understand it,
Just a constant whirlpool of feelings
Dragging me down, down

But you understand it,
Which means I have a chance.
Combined, we have lost enough people in five years
To fill a family tree.
We share what we know,
Sitting in the ashes together when that’s all the strength we have.

One year later I bring more to share,
As life continues, death follows but so do you,
Every step of the way, you have patience for the pain,
And I begin to see the blessings it bears.

When it will end is not for us to know,
But we are finding answers to our whys along the way.
So perhaps these wounds aren’t wasted,
If we can find wisdom through them.