The Father's Daughter

"Come take My hand," The Father said 

when she was only three

"I know you're frightened and feel all alone, 

but you'll be safe here, in me."

As the little girl grew, pain rained down on her and she cried

"Daddy God, why did You leave?!?" 

He whispered, "Your tears are caused by evil ones,

but the strength to survive is coming from me."

In her pain, she couldn't hear that He was near.

"Turn away if you must", He said.

"I'll wait right here while you battle your fears

and try it your way instead."

Quietly in His hand, He kept her,

He was there when she shed lonely tears,

but in pride and doubt, she turned Him away

and suffered for many years.

He sent people by to testify

on how joyous her life could be

He wooed her with sunsets, sang on the breeze,

and stirred her spirit that her eyes might see.

He opened her heart when her children arrived-

Oh, how He wanted her to see

He was there and  collecting her tears

and made sure she had food to eat.

Then in a quiet moment, He spoke and she heard

and cried out from her knees, 

"I've rejected You time and again, Father, 

yet You still call with love to me?"

"I've missed you, my child" He replied,

"For each day my love is new.

Turn back to me now, it's not too late,

Let Abba take care of you!"

"Give Me your worries, I'll carry that weight,

I'll take that fear and those doubts, too.

You go laugh, cry tears of joy

celebrate the life I've granted you!"

And from that day, the day she prayed, 

and placed her hand in His.

She received His amazing grace and began to see 

The "He" He truly is.

Above all else, she placed Him, in joy and gratitude,

she turned to The Father for everything, 

and prayed about what she should do.

He always answered because He always heard,

and she learned how to live by The Father's Word.

Her life turned around as His Light settled in,

she received perfect peace and a new Best Friend.

Life's trials she now conquered instead of giving in

and she stomped all over what used to be her sin.

Her eyes sparkled with love and light 

it was impossible not to see,

and when asked how she came by such peace,

she'd say, "My Father gave it to me!"

She taught her  grandloves and all of her friends,

and anyone with eyes to see,

how to trust in The Father and walk in His Way

-she became the woman He created her to be!

On a warm summer night, a new moon in the sky,

just after she'd turned ninety-three,

she folded her hands and cried out in prayer,

"Oh, Father, I long to see Thee!"

 He held her and whispered,

"You'll wake up at Home"

and she smiled and died in her sleep.

~Terrie Carpenter