It’s OK to Be Broken
You Will Find Your True Self in Christ
by
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Compassion
On the distant horizon
Across the Lake
A dot emerged
Coming closer and growing larger
A boat emerged
Who are these people that come across the lake to me?
Can anyone help me or am I a lost cause?
The boat arrived on my side of the lake
I saw people coming off the boat
A psychiatrist, a chaplain, nurses,
Psychologists, a minister, pharmacists
Social workers, child care workers, food services workers
Neighbours, friends
And my dear Husband
All came with compassion in their eyes
Comprehending Compassion as the presence of God
I accepted their help
For they are indeed
The hands and feet of Christ in this world
I was given Pills and Potions
Skills and Notions
Compassion can never come in a pill or potion
Compassion cannot be taught like a skill or notion
Compassion is a gift from God
Though never completely cured
I have received healing
I have received wonderful blessings
I can return the deep love my husband has for me
I can love my son
I can love me
I can marvel at God’s creation
I can sing and dance and laugh
I am happy to be alive
For Christ is truly alive in the world today
2012
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About the Book
'I found these poems to be inspirational and powerful. They reflect the integrity of a lived experience, and as such they demonstrate an authentic and vital theology. I hope they may bring insight and help to others facing a similar life journey.'
Rev. Russell Davies Uniting Church Australia
A Child of God
An adult must always be kind
When dealing with a child’s mind
For the messages a child receives
Can for a whole lifetime, deceive
The adult the child becomes
Or
The messages a child receives
Can enable the child to perceive
Blessings all through life
For it is a life-long battle to conceive
The small miracles in our lives
But
For damaged adults
There is hope
From someone higher than the Pope
Into His arms Christ will receive
To teach Truth and never deceive
The child the adult becomes
As a child of God
About the Author
Jill O’Brien has been a patient of mine for many years. She has been in therapy for severe trauma that she experienced in her early life. Despite the multiple traumas being pervasive and catastrophic, with recurrent sexual, physical and emotional abuse, which have left significant psychiatric marks on her, she has continued to work through this in therapy, and has indeed continued to strengthen psychologically through the years.
Hers has been a journey littered with minefields, enough to destroy anyone else with lesser tenacity, strength, perceptiveness and insight. Through it all, she has held on to a gentle dignity. In addition, she has had a quiet but strong spirituality over many years, with her Christian faith holding her steady, when at times it seemed that her world was torn apart.
Despite her suffering, she has sought to heal through writing poetry, which is at once personal, honest and inspirational. Through much of her poetry she expresses the healing she has found through her Christian faith. With some trepidation and caution, she now seeks an opportunity to share some of this poetry with others, in the hope that they might also find some healing.