And then I knew
About me
About this
This place
About Bobby
Who I had become
And remembered when I wasn't him
When there was no Bobby
How Bobby grew
Emerged
From awfulness
How he made friends
Was touched by who they were
Grew because he knew them
Slowly
Carefully
Let them know who he was
Poured his heart out over and over
Until he drained it dry
Of poisons that had been there
Until he told
Had to tell of all the aches
All of the awful things
The guilt
The shame
Wanting to die
And they simply watched
Like those who watch butterflies emgerge from cocoons
Wanting to help
Encouraging when they can
But understanding that to touch the butterfly may be to destroy it
It is a journey it must take alone
But they were there to catch the butterfly
To hold it tenderly while it dried its wings in the sun
And to rejoice as it took flight

Bobby

And all of you are etched there on my wings
All of you are held deep in my heart

The sermon quote was:
"It's never too late to choose to be who you are."

And suddenly I understood

Amen

And Amen!