You came through locked doors 
and into our anxious hearts 
and said, “Peace, be with you.”

We passed it off, 
a greeting.

You said it again, 
“Peace be with you.”

And we remembered,
You promised to give us your peace
otherworldly and unaffected by circumstance.
You said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Don’t be afraid.”
as if that were possible.

But nothing is impossible for You.

You keep coming through locked doors and into troubled hearts
until one day we feel your peace–
if only for a moment.

But it only takes a moment
for a mustard seed of peace 
to grow into the possibility
of a tree full of peaceful moments so plentiful
the birds of the air nest in our branches.

Perhaps one day, we will say to each other,
“Something’s missing.”
Eventually, it comes to us:
We forgot to be anxious.

 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
–John 14:27

Credits and References
Parable of the Mustard Seed image by Lawrence OP. Used with permission.
“My Peace, I Give You” by Esther Hizsa, 2024
Door and Lock image by rainy city. Used with permission.

© Esther Hizsa, An Everyday Pilgrim, 2024.
The unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without permission from Esther Hizsa is prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used provided there is a link to the original content and credit is given as follows: © Esther Hizsa, An Everyday Pilgrim 2013-2024.  http://www.estherhizsa.com