Shadows

My sweet little shadows

Who follow my very steps

They wish to do each act

And consume every breath.

Many times I feel like I’m suffocating

And though it may be true

I don’t know what I would do without them

I love each of them through and through.

With each one,

I can mark the ways I’ve grown

I can see the difference in my marriage

And the ways I make my love known.

I can see marked instances

Where God changed major parts of me

All because of a little shadow

Who follows so willingly.

Lately I struggle

to keep my manners kind

When the shadows disrupt my plans

Or invades “my” time

Though I am imperfect

And growing every day

I want to bring life and joy

To everything I say.

So as I walk this road

With each shadow tagging along

Help me, God to guide them

Because one day, in not too long

My sweet little shadows

Will no longer cling to me

But will have shadows of their own

And I pray my life will have led them to Thee.

-L. C.