Poem: Gift Of Voice

The voice
A great and powerful tool
For good or for ill.
Use it
To build up;
To share;
To bridge;
To reach;
To restore;
To heal.
Do not use it
To tear down;
To break apart;
To sow despair;
To spread fear;
To provoke anger.
When I was young
I feared to speak
So afraid
I wet my pants.
As I grew older
I learned to speak
My first great fear
To be overcome.
Over the years
I’ve learned my voice
Its power
Its risks
Its rewards.
I use it now
To serve the Lord.
Yet even still
I struggle to master
Its depth
Its complexity.
There are times
I still fear to speak.
Times
The voice can’t express
The fullness of my heart.
Thank God
For the gift of voice
The courage to speak.
May we use it well.
May I use it well.