God's Daughters

BY PETER CHRISTOPHER RAYMOND
1999

I LOOK AT HER AND I SEE GOD'S CHILD
CONCEIVED IN HIS HEART HE BORE HER AND SMILED
THE DEPTH OF HER EYES LIKE THE DEPTH OF HIS GRACE
AND STORED HER DREAMS IN A PRECIOUS PLACE
ALL OF HER PRAYERS HE PROMISED TO HEAR
THOSE TOO HE WOULD CHERISH AND PUT IN THERE
AND THOUGH HER HEART WOULD WANDER ASTRAY
HE STORED THEM FAITHFULLY FOR A SPECIAL DAY
WHEN SHE WOULD RETURN ACROSS THAT DIVIDE
PRESENTED NEW AS HIS HOLY BRIDE
WHILE HER WORD OF CORRECTION WILL ALWAYS STING
IT REFLECTS THE LOVE AND CONVICTION SHE BRINGS
THE WARMTH IN HER SOUL HEALS HEARTS WHEN IT SINGS
SHE WEIGHS THE VALUE OF EVERYTHING
HER GENTLE TENDER WORDS WHISPER WISDOM
HER MOMENTS OF DARK DESPAIR ARE SELDOM
WHILE SHE WALKS CALMLY BESIDE HER LORD
WITH LOVELY PLEASURES HER DAYS ARE SCORED
SHE'S GIVEN HER HEART AWAY TIME AFTER TIME
TO RECEIVE IT AND DISCARD IT IS A TERRIBLE CRIME
MUCH WORSE IS NOT EVEN TO ACCEPT IT AT ALL
TO REFUSE IT COMPLETELY SO THAT GOD IS APPALLED
THAT ONE WOULD TREAT HIS DAUGHTERS IN THAT WAY
AND THUS HASTEN THEIR OWN DOOM AND DECAY
HELP ME TO ALWAYS LOVE MY SISTERS DEEPLY
AND NEVER FALTER THOUGH I MAY GROW SLEEPY
YOU GAVE HER HER SWEETNESS AND RIGHTEOUS PASSIONS
AND THEN GAVE HER TO ME TO TEACH ME COMPASSION
TO LOOK IN THE FACES THAT REFLECT YOUR BEAUTY
AND LET YOUR LOVE FOR YOUR DAUGHTERS CONSUME ME
WHAT A RARE HONOR AND RESPONSIBILITY
TO PRESENT THEM AS PURE AND ALL TO YOUR GLORY