Dear Lord, Forgive Me Poem by Paul Sebastian

For the times I doubted your presence
And relied on my own intelligence
For making fame and fortune my gods
And believing my destiny I alone could lord
Dear Lord, forgive me for trusting false gods!

For the times I strayed into sinful thoughts
Wild wanderings in fantasies I sought
Unbridled tongue hurling darts of hurtful words
Letting pride and greed crown my wicked deeds
Dear Lord, forgive me and cleanse me of my sins!

For the times I caused pain to my loved ones
And for ignoring their genuine loving kindness
Stone-hearted I tenaciously clung to my pride
Hiding my weaknesses behind my thick hide
Dear Lord, forgive me for being stone-hearted!

For the many times I had hurt my friends
By abusing friendship, for own selfish ends
For having spoken ill and gossiped lies
Making disparaging remarks, breaking ties
Dear Lord of mercy, forgive me, hear my cry!

For the times I had callously hurt my relatives
Revenging hurts they’d caused with their negatives
For the times they had pained my parents
With hurtful remarks, resulting relational dents
Dear Lord, forgive all of them, as I forgive them!

Lord, for all the times I had trespassed
Knowingly or unknowingly offenses I’d caused
Against you or my neighbor I’d transgressed
I repent of my ways now so as to be saved
Dear Lord, deliver from being sin-chained!
AMEN

21.3.2015