my psalm 23

I've been wanting to do this for a week or more, but haven't been able to find the time. Ever since I read instructions for writing a personal Psalm 23 in Idelette's blog, I've been determined to put one together. The first line came immediately, the rest took some nudging into being. After trying it both ways, I realized I needed to use feminine pronouns. Not just to be consistent with "mother", but because at this point in my life, I have trouble connecting with God as masculine. My relationship with my father is a very broken and complicated thing, and while I have let go of bitterness and forgiven him, I still have a lot of poisoned memories. To be totally honest, I don't relate well to males in general. And all of this colors my vision of God as "He". Consequently, God as Father often leaves me cold. But God as Mother-well, that brings me to tears. Tears of hope, awe, joy, and thankfulness.


The Lord is my Mother, I need not fear the Dark
She calls upon me to open my heart to others
And tenderly bandages the wounds they inflict
She brings me to the room of Her heart that is named for me
And calls me Comforter and Healer
She overcomes my fears with boundless, unfailing love

In the times when I am overcome with shame and doubt, certain I will be rejected,
I run to Her embrace, for She knows the good that is in me.
Her encouragement and praise renew Hope in me.
She gives me the courage to see others as She sees them
She allows me to grieve for their brokenness
I am overwhelmed by the love that She is.

Her patience and generous heart guide me into wholeness and maturity.
From within the shelter of Her arms, I will discover my wings and fly to meet the dawn.