New love,

Encapsulated her body. 

While past hopes, 

fallen commitments 

Were holding her breath.

Keeping her neck focused in only one direction, 

Gripping the air around her, 

Waiting for her to try to breathe again.

All the while creating a sheath,

It was building.

These new layers were not destroying or taking away

Nor were they building on insecurity and failure,

But of learned failures,

Thickening her skin.

Every new layer, 

But a ‘fail layer’

Each one built upon the last, learned one, 

Callusing her body.

Underneath the sheath, her soul moved faster than ever.

Able to open up gates and nodes to love on others with what she has learned through her stages.

Every new layer around her body 

Is stained and veined with harsh realities and beautiful color.

Colors of grace and mercy.

Drawn and filled by the One who has the only power to do so.

In the midst of her learning,

She is able to love.

She is able to move.

She is able to listen.

The layers He is building,

build a Kingdom.

Not a kingdom of just you.

Not a kingdom of your accomplishments or mistakes,

But a kingdom of His glory.

That is why you are here.

No matter how many layers around you right now,

He will continue. 

Photo by Anthony Shkraba on pexels.