Exposed
Dedicated to Team Wildfire
Seven
people, seven different lives —
stories told night after night
broken hearts and heart breaks,
deaths, divorce, too much weight
weighing down shoulders
as they grow older.
Lies —
from the enemy
plague
their young minds
while
they learn, they play, they sleep.
They weep —
Labels —
given
and believed;
worthless, useless,
better dead than alive.
Identities —
taken,
used and abused
far too long
along the road
lacking light
no end in sight
except the life
in their eyes —
blurred with hopelessness
burning with salt
puddles of tears
with every thought
who am I?
Sons and daughters
sisters and brothers
make-shift mothers
who knew no other
way —
Growing up an adult
from a child’s
dilated
point-of-view
Pornography, eating disorders,
addictions, drug use —
Substances
without substance
swallowed control of the bodies
empty —
filling a void it couldn’t
feel
vessels overflowing
sin, guilt, shame
unable of forgiving
themselves.
Slowly, steadily
rescue arrives
heartbeats restore
knees knock the floor
voices cry out
screams and shouts
help —
Wounds stitched up
healing begins
from the beginning.
Whispers flow
through the ears,
they hear His name
fears disappear
His hand reaches down
bodies on the ground
rise up,
embrace warmth
with His touch;
visions clear
futures painted
with purpose
Paths of righteousness
chances with chances
with no chance
to fail
for when they fall
His arms reach out
to catch.
Fourteen lungs
inhale fresh air
renewed
by the Spirit —
it quenches the search
for relief.
For relief is here,
always near,
wipes the tears
of His dear
children —
created in His image,
wisdom and knowledge
He speaks truth,
rips labels from the roots
of evil
reveals identities
stolen
by the enemy.
He breaks
the
chains —
They’ve been set free.
They take off running
chasing the sun
rise and set
to ignite the
flame —
fire reigns
spreads like wildfire
their desire
to live
for the Savior
they give
the lives they lived
away to gain
the lives He planned.
They dive in deep
swim with sharks
fight off attacks
shallow and steep —
they hear His call
to make Him known
glorify His name
home to home.
Closet doors open
shadows cast out
scars of the past
expose their skin —
Mountains of trust
built from the dust
unbreakable bonds
united
in Christ.
Robbie (dad), Katie (mom), John (big bro), myself (big sis), Jace (little bro), Kelsey (little sis), Amber (middle sis)
