Courage

Standing at the edge of eternity I look

at the minutes spread before my eternal gaze.

The bright sphere of light cannot hold me forever if I am to 

become as my mother and father here.

I have watched many came and go, I have watched their

triumphs, and all Heaven has ached at the falls.

Some I know will not come home.

My soul quails at pain, fear, and sin awaiting me.

I am so clean here.

I am hugged by my family. My friends say, “See you soon”

I absorb the light. I get to take it with me, and I will

never be alone.

I know that I want celestial glory more than I’m afraid.

When I am imperfect, He will heal me perfectly.

When I am scared, He will be brave.

When I am broken, He will be whole.

When I am sometimes, He is always.

I take my guardian’s hands, and together, we step

into Earth.

Into that bright glaring light, noises, smells, feelings.

The loving eyes see me, but they don’t know that I know nothing

yet except that I can still see a little bit of Heaven

And in just a few minutes, I’ll take my guardian’s hands again,

And again my eternal eyes will see.

And through the formerly insurmountable pain and fear and

sin,

I will kneel before my Father and receive a crown of eternal

righteousness and glory.

And I will be clean there.

Olivia Madsen

Spring 2013

Written the night of the General Young Women Broadcast