Paraclete

His lip quivers; I relax my eyebrows.
His breathing quickens; I force mine to slow.
His eyes fill with tears; mine fill with compassion.
“I can't!” he wails. Soft whisper, “I know.”
His body is trembling; I hold my thoughts steady.
He's looking to me, while I'm looking to God.
His face is all wet now; I'm making my heart soft,
unsure how much longer I can hold this façade.
I offer him kindness and wisdom of ages; 
I speak now in sternness: “It's time to move on.”
But quick to remember my own bloody battles, 
I join back beside him as Truth Liaison.
We walk side-by-side for a few sacred moments; 
his breathing has slowed and begins to match mine.
His gaze is now upward; he's looking to Jesus.
Oh, Lord, will you please let your peace and strength shine?
He turns now to leave me emboldened toward courage, 
hand grips the knob, steps in out of view.
So why is my heart now beginning to tremble?
Head pounding fierce, my tears make their debut.

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“…[God] comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:4
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SARAH STEELE is a Christ-follower, wife to James, and mom to four lively redheads. Poetry helps her work feelings into written pictures, and as a wordy extrovert, she find its genre particularly useful in learning to be succinct. Sarah enjoys homeschooling, watercoloring, walking and biking, church-caring, and neighbor-loving in Kalamazoo, Michigan. You can find her work on Instagram or Facebook @bysarahsteele.