the return

By Elizabeth Hudgens

as one often wandering
a heart cowering for
relief from exposure
a posture turning inward
while winds whip contorting
this soul in constant shame
over all i am squandering
finds itself wallowing alone
in despair next to pigs
greedily growing plump
gorging on tossed scraps

mere visions of food
begin the journey
a limping back broken
yet moving toward
the basics unassuming
head hung low filled
heavy with fading
memories of goodness
better than all passing
pleasures promised
yet woefully unfulfilled

it is the searching glance
the loving recognition
the pursuit from far off
the undignified run
the collapsing embrace
the delighted countenance
this kindness of the father
transforms the return
into a heartfelt turning

home is a belonging

an invitation into
the joy of his presence
an offer of comfort
his nearness supplies
an extension of forgiveness
that affords true kinship
a celebration unexpectedly
allowing for a feasting of soul
an experience of his delight
in my being who he made
an inheritance promised
so gloriously unending
a re-union to the One
with whom i make my home

Elizabeth Hudgens

https://elizabethhudgensblog.wordpress.com

Elizabeth is wife to Jonathan and mom to 3 amazing teens (just a regular mom, not a cool mom), additionally she loves (in no particular order) food and Jesus and books and friends and getting outside to move her body. As a beloved child of God, a partaker of grace, and a participant in the gospel, her heart longs for the words she writes to match with an embodied practice of faith in order to encourage a deeper love for Jesus in anyone who will pay attention.

You can connect with Elizabeth on Instagram at @elizabethwrites_insideout and Twitter at @ehudge74.