My Brother's Keeper

Before I share this poem I thought I'd let you know that in my prayer tonight I asked God to keep me from getting distracted and to keep me from some sins I struggle with...then I read the passage that this poem is based on and read this: "But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." We cannot be passive in our fight against sin, it is always right there. We can't be ignorant of the fact that we struggle with sin. We need to work at fighting our weaknesses. We must master our desires. We can't just ask God to forgive us and help us and leave it at that...there is more involved on our side of things. I'm not saying we need to work to save ourselves because I know we can't work our own way into salvation...but in any relationship, we do need to do our part. Forgive me Lord for forgetting this sometimes.

My Brother's Keeper

He gave from his heart, this son of the first

His brother looked from a distance and cursed

Each day he gave with love, the best of what he had

From a distance, his brother still watched, mad

Malice, envy and feelings of hate

Drew but closer, the young man's fate

"Come, let's take a walk, my brother, my friend."

Closer still the innocent young man's end

And so in a grassy field he was killed

By his own brother who was envy filled

This was near the beginning of time

The first of murderous crimes

And then a voice called from somewhere above

A voice questioning such a betrayed love

Where is your brother, where is he, my son?

The one below could not hide nor run

So with nowhere to go, only deeper

Asked, "Am I my brother's keeper?"

You have killed him, he had done nothing wrong

You've kept this jealousy in you too long

I'm sending you out to live on your own

For you have let you heart harden to stone

So with nowhere to go, but deeper

Asked, "Am I my brother's keeper?"