i want to make something clear

as gently but as clearly as

i possibly can, because i keep

hearing messages of other than.

 

of people who have struggled

long because of things they have

heard and absorbed. thoughts

that rubbish the entirety of

who and what they are.

 

and even heard this in places

that are meant to be holy.

 

when you were formed out of

dust, within your mother’s

womb, God looked upon you

with profound love and declared,

‘what i have made, it is good.’

 

and while in this world there

are things fallen, horrible,

unspeakable things and there

resides within each of our

hearts the potential to foster

either incredible good or ill

 

but know this, God sees you

as entirely lovable, worthwhile,

worth cherishing. so much

so that he would move heavens

and earth for you—and this

he did.

 

you are full of traits, features,

personality, talents, gifts

and abilities that make you

unique. that make you–you.

 

and each of these was carefully

crafted with love by the one

who spun your life into motion

before your very first breath.

 

and he does not make rubbish.

 

and you are something

exquisitely spectacular

indeed.

 

and the voice that says

otherwise in your head

is not the one who

carefully, lovingly

and intentionally

planned–you.

 

so, shake off that dust that

clouds your vision, open

the window to your soul

that has been stuck tight

–and shine.

 

©Heather Pound 2023

image:Maria Teneva/Unsplash