Every Last Creeping Thought

Listen, I’m going to say something

I need you to remember

Listen, I mean really listen to this

Listen with your ears

Hear this with your heart

You

Belong

You belong here

You belong to your God

Not as you used to be

Not as you will someday be

But right

Now

Right in this messy moment

In all your imperfection

And God

God, He loves you

Loves you like He made you

Loves you like He sent his son to bleed your blood

To carry your weight on his back

As his very own

You belong in this world

You belong in all the good parts

You belong in clean sheets and cool breezes and the Christmas season

You belong in the dark parts

Right there in the middle

Shine shine shining your light

Even if it’s just a flicker

You belong to yourself

You don’t need to change

Own every piece of you

Love it, thank it, praise it like you’ve fallen in love

With the very worst parts

I have been studying suicide

And this is what I want to say

You belong here

Not in spite of your faults

Not besides all the bad

Not separate from your sins

You belong here, carrying them in your arms

Holding them close to your heart

Cuddling them against your chest

There is room for it all

Every last piece

Every last drop

Every last creeping thought

Belongs.