Room at the Table
there’s a photo
of a little girl
in a pink shirt
holding a clear bag
that holds all her
worldly possessions
and she’s hugging it
close to her chest
one hand over the other
as if it were
a stuffed animal
or a blanket
and she has this look
on her face
so calm, so strong, so quiet, so sad
and all around her
is complete chaos
and uncertainty
she’s an immigrant
who was born into
uncontrollable circumstances
her eyes are old eyes
in a small face
she hasn’t a home
to go back to
or one to go to
now
she’s caught in a struggle
of power, money, greed, hatred
and she has no power
no money
no greed
no hatred
she just knows she can’t go home
and she’s got no home
and nothing makes sense
in her head
she sees people crying
and yelling
and fighting
and hurting
and she’s standing
in the middle of it
still as a statue
not crying
not yelling
not fighting
she stands there
frozen
in her pink shirt
hugging her bag
to her chest
with hurt in her eyes
completely helpless
in a mess
she didn’t make
and I pray for her
I pray she knows
in her little heart
there is a God
who never forsakes
who hears her
who sees her
who feels her
who will give her the strength
to endure
“I know what it is to be in need,
and I know what it is to have plenty.
I have learned the secret of being content
in any and every situation, whether well fed
or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
I can do all this through Him who gives
me strength.”
– Philippians 4:12-13
TL