Welcome
“Hello, welcome
I am so pleased to see you
Come in”
The smile I offer is warm and genuine
I love visitors
I draw you into the best room of my home
An oil burner faintly scents the air with roses and violets
Soft music quietly plays in the dining room
A log fire crackles warmth
A mantel clock chimes the quarter hours
Together we sit making polite conversation,
Sipping tea or coffee, your choice
When friends and family come, they too enjoy
This welcome, these best rooms
They also join me in the kitchen,
They push up sleeves to help wash up,
Take vegetable scraps to the worms
Empty rubbish bins
Even so I allow them to see only what I want them to see
I keep private my dirty washing,
Those intimate things
Doubtless they have discovered many of my faults
But I do not willingly expose weakness or personal shortcomings
They are not party to the thoughts I have
Some that make me blush
So when I invite The Spirit of God into my Life
Do I treat Him as…?
A stranger
An acquaintance
A family member
Or
As an Intimate lover
Do I hesitate?
Wondering at which point He will reject
At which point He will withhold His Love
At which point He will say No
And pull away
Or
Do I fling wide the doors to every room?
Give Him the keys to each cupboard
Willingly baring my Soul to Him
Gentle Lover that He is
He takes time until I’m ready
Softly, tenderly
He supports me
We work together
Sifting the sands of Time
He keeps the balance of those mysteries and dark secrets
My unconscious self hides away
He protects me from harm
He does not protect me from the Truth
Truth hurts more sometimes
Holy Spirit keeps me safe
He stands awaiting my welcome
And enters in Because He Loves…
Words and Pictures © Denise Stanford 2010
Within the Vine 
