to bless the wayward

For the Parents of One

Who has Committed a Crime

~(A blessing By John O'Donohue)
from his book "To Bless the Space Between Us"
published by Doubleday 1st Edition

( © John O’Donohue. All rights reserved.)

See the web site: www.johnodonohue.com

No one else can see beauty

In his darkened life now.

His image has closed

Like a shadow.

When people look at him,

He has become the mirror

Of the damage he has done.

But he is yours;

And you have different eyes

That hold his yesterdays

In pictures no one else remembers:

Waiting for him to be born,

Not knowing who he would be,

The moments of his childhood,

First steps, first words,

Smiles and cries,

And all the big thresholds

Of his journey since...

He is yours in a way

No words could ever tell;

And you can see through

The stranger this deed has made him

And still find the countenance of your son.

Despite all the disappointment and shame,

May you find in your belonging with him

A kind place, where your spirit will find rest.

May new words come alive between you

To build small bridges of understanding.

May that serenity lead you beyond guilt and blame

To find that bright field of the heart

Where he can come to feel your love

Until it heals whatever darkness drove him

And he can see what it is he has done

And seek forgiveness and bring healing;

May this dark door open a path

That brightens constantly with new promise.

---

~(A blessing By John O'Donohue)
from his book "To Bless the Space Between Us"
published by Doubleday 1st Edition

( © John O’Donohue. All rights reserved.)

See the web site: www.johnodonohue.com