HONESTY

Grabbed onto or slowly faced
Honesty is but the start 
Of healing wounded shattered selves
Of clearly seeing hearts 

From retreat to near approach 
With trembling questions wondered
Do I really want to face 
Those buried hurts down under? 

Please…I do…I must for sure
If ever to be free
From the seep of festered wounds 
Into the heart of me 

Like onion layers peeled back
Slowly or with vigor
Overwhelming airs reveal
My bitters to surrender

When leaning into honesty 
My guard tenderly withheld 
Those fearful awful things I’ve hid 
Fly free through Truth beheld 

When someone spears my wounded heart
Or I have caused them pain
Forgiveness birthed in honesty
Builds bridges once again

And if the other won’t receive 
Give forgiveness back to me
Still the hand of Love’s reached out 
Frees me in honesty 

~~~

LORD, You know my heart, the ways I try to protect myself, cling to my point of view. Let me come before You in honesty. Give me courage to see where I have erred, and to seek forgiveness to those I’ve hurt. Help me to forgive others, and myself, and place in Your arms the consequences of torn relationships. Please pour out Your grace and reconciliation to heal our wounded hearts. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Zechariah 8:16 HCSB
“These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another, make true and sound decisions within your gates.”

Colossians 3:13-14 NLT
“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.”