To Soften One’s Heart
When Moses laid the law down to his nation,
It differed from intent back at creation;
Divorce (with kind regard) he made a place in
The laws he set before initial nation.Like student in the class in demonstration
To others in the class, to ease frustration,
The Jews and all their kin (now mixed together),
Were first to walk this path in desert weather.It’s hot out in the sun in years of travel
’Cross deserts’ burning sand and endless gravel;
How well would we make out in steamy weather?
It hardens up one’s heart like dried-up leather.The seed – the Word of God – can’t gain a footing
When hearts are beaten down, for when we’re looking
To see where to begin we find just hardness,
And yet we persevere with it regardless.For life has many ways to pack a pathway,
Where seed just bounces off – we make no headway;
The tramp of callous boots on gentle living,
Brings hardness to our hearts and stops our giving.For hearts of stone, however thus, are callous
To needs of other folks from shack to palace;
But when they’re loosened up, made soft for planting,
Such lives can turn from hatred and it’s ranting.As blacksmith with hot coals can soften metal,
We too can soften hearts until they settle
Into a way of life that’s far more gentle
In outward life, not merely one that’s mental.When we’ve been hurt, we crust up like the others;
We too take leave from fathers and our mothers
Unless we soften up throughout our leaving
We find it’s hard to love within our cleaving.navigation