The Chance

I wrote this poem early the morning after my cousin's funeral, he had taken his life after struggling with depression for years. I had just had a dream about him when I heard these word stir in my heart. I hope this is a blessing to you if you have lost someone who never seemed to make the most of the chance they had with their life. I also hope it encourages those of us who may not realize that we still have the chance of a lifetime each day we wake up in God's perfect grace.

The Chance

When I got to heaven

I was surprised to see

Jesus with outstretched arms

Waiting there for me

“How can I deserve this?”

I kept thinking to myself

For I had given up,

Laid my chance up on a shelf

Through tearful eyes I struggled

To look into His face

To search for unknown answers

“How could I deserve such grace?”

Jesus seemed to know my heart

His eyes were tearful too

“My son, could you not see-

I have always been here for you.”

Each trial I sent down to you

Had a purpose in your life

I gave you a chance to see,

To make darkness in to light

I did not leave your side, not once

Even when you did leave me

I never stopped sending down chances,

I so wanted you to see!

My love for you is endless

My grace would have been enough

To help you through life’s biggest storms

When the waters seemed too rough

Jesus then took my hand

To show me something new

“Look down upon the world my son,

See the plans I had for you”

I saw so clearly every time,

God’s wisdom had taken place

How each person struggled to find

A chance to win the race

I so badly wanted to scream down to them

And tell them to look above

All that they were searching for,

Was found in the wonder of our Father’s love

My heart broke each time I watched

As they turned away

And cursed God our Father

And wasted another day

What I would have given

For one more chance to help them see

To show them just how simple

An abundant life can be

How different it would be for me now

If only I had known

How God uses each one of us

To make us all His own

Unworthiness and regret

Now overtake my heart

For I had given up my chance

To make a brand new start

What I wanted now

More then anything I had ever known

Was a crown to lay at His feet

To thank Him for the love and grace He has shown

And to hear those words spoken

When we have done it right

“Well done my good and faithful servant-

Come now and rest in the light”

My crown is not yet worthy

To lay before His feet

I wasted so many chances

My crown soo incomplete

Even in my fear and shame

God’s love and grace shone through,

“Come with me my precious child,

I have one more chance for you”

Reach down and touch the others

With all the love that’s in your heart

Show them that it is not too late

To create a brand new start

Let your life be a testament

Of how even in despair

I will still reach down to hold you

And show you I am there

For even in the darkest heart

There still exists some light

For is it not were darkness prevails

That light can shine most bright?

Let my life now stand as a testimony

All I have left to give

Take the chance to love God our Father

And truly learn to live!