A Reverence For Hurts Felt
by Michael Doyle

It's never easy on the children. Is it?
Perfection is not really a standard. Is it?
There is so much to be worked out,
Between the fears, the tears, and the doubts.

It's too bad about the power of animosity.
It's a terrible cancer that destroys a family.
It seems even with an approaching Thanksgiving,
That there's not enough appreciation for forgiving.

There are a lot of one-too-many wrongs done.
The good Lord knows it's hard to be a daughter or a son.
It feels near impossible to know if you've made the measure.
But if you could only look in a father's heart to his treasure.

You would feel until you knew of his love.
But earthly love never measures up to the love from above.
It doesn't matter how much a father might pray.
There is no escaping the failures of yesterday. 

I sit with tears in my eyes as I write this page.
Nothing will ever do away with omissions or moments of rage.
If only I could undo the things said or that I have done.
I pray this earnestly to the Father and the Son.

Holding on to the anger does no one any good.
Maybe that's the one thing in life to be understood.
Only love, real love, can make the difference.
I say this with the sincerest reverence.

You can never run away from yesterday.
It follows your tomorrow, whatever you might say.
In this pain, you eventually feel the reflection.
All the needed thoughts to finally make the connection.

Letting go of grief and anger at life's giving
You less than wanted as you approach Thanksgiving,
Maybe this is the hard of doing that brings appreciation.
All the moments together feel as if leading to dedication.

There's a realization that God puts us where we belong,
Like notes in the pocket of some forgotten song.
We are exactly where we are meant to be
For the knock on the door of opportunity.

It's in the lessons we think and feel
When we talk of hurt feelings made real.
It's hard to remember all the things we might contend
That has made us turn to see Jesus as our truest friend.

(c) November 20, 2025   Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved