The Gift

You gave me a gift

Which I freely took

Making mistake after mistake

But always knew

I would be forgiven

However it still pained me

I lived with the guilt

Which only means,

That the gift you gave me

Wasn’t fully accepted

I am sorry for my ignorance

For living with a closed mind

Yet still an open heart

I selfishly received

But never freely gave

I need now to change

To realise how wonderful

The gift I have been given

That mistakes made

Are freely forgiven

I need to now see

What grace really means

Yes, it’s a gift I’ve received

But it’s also for me to be

To forgive those who have hurt me

Forgiveness is hard

Yet I have been forgiven

Seventy seven times seven

So why is it hard?

For me to fully forgive

I need to start afresh

To wipe the slates clean

To treat other people

With the grace I’ve been given

And to love anew each day

Jo Anne Kennedy

July 2016