"our lips must only blessings know..."

"our lips
must only blessings know..."
- Mary Livermore


what will you
let pass
through this sacred
door when
the words..or actions... of others
feel like a dagger in your heart
and emotions run
high and the self is torn, 
ragged with
hurt

do you allow anything that
is said to you,
or about you,
incite your anger,
give you permission
to leave your post...to let
an unkindness
pass your lips,
cynicism slip across the threshhold of
your consciousness,
gossip cross your tongue,
criticism seep through your words,
sarcasm drip like a slow
poison over your
heart....

imagine a small child
sitting at the
doorway of your lips...

would what you say
make her smile with delight
feel appreciated,
nurtured,
adored,
blessed....

this child is
you
and she deserves the
very purest,
clearest,
most
sweetly perfumed
atmosphere
for growing in...

let your lips
only
know blessing
and
the child you are
will
smile with
pleasure,
twirl with delight,
live in
peace...