Faithful Wounds Poem by Jay Loring

In pain and grief my soul cried out.
And many there were that heard my shout.

And one by one they came to share
their words of love, of hope, of care.

They spoke of brighter days ahead
and bid me smile and raise my head.

Said I could do it if I tried.
There's so much good down deep inside.

Their words were sweet, I wished them true.
But no one knows you like you do.

And knowing not my secret pain,
they left me with my grief again.

But then another friend came by.
And this friend looked me in the eye.

He spoke in truth, but still in love,
and bid me look to God above.

His words were harsh, I knew them true.
They cut me deep and cut me through.

He spoke of sin and consequence.
I knew inside his words made sense.

But I could not his words receive -
said, "There's the door, " and made him leave.

I cursed him for his piercing words,
that cut me like a thousand swords.

I could not bear to tell my soul
that God alone could make me whole.

And in my foolish pride I mused,
"I'll not repent! " and just refused.

But God's compassion knows no bound.
And God began to plow the ground.

And with the holy water's flow,
His words like seeds began to grow.

And so, these seeds brought one by one,
conviction of the things I'd done.

God's kindness with each seed was sent,
‘til on my knees I did repent.

So, I discovered in the end
that faithful wounds come from a friend.