after the asking
and the waiting at the window
your hands have to shape themselves
into a wide, open mouth
receiving the answer
that arrived on glossy wings
be it a different bird that now
sings on your windowsill
a raven, instead of a
nightingale
if your God is called
love
then anything that arrives
holding peace in its mouth
will be ok, and you will
be ok
even in the midst of the-thing-you-do-not-want
be it fierce on your faith
or tender
boundaries can be recalculated and tent pegs
pulled up and knocked back into place somewhere else
you are held
you are held
you are held
and God is love
and you are loved
and love does
what love does.

— small words to help you open your waiting hands

© Liezel Graham 2023

{📷 Stephen Packwood, on Unsplash}