All the Forgivenesses

by Elizabeth Hardinger

To my mind, there’s no flower smells as good as lilacs, no perfume as sweet.

found out, I could wake up ever day and do what had to be done, and I let it be enough.

Like I myself was made out of breath, like I was breath itself. But now, instead of feeling empty, I felt light. Light was shining on me and in me, it was filling me and lifting me. I felt like I didn’t deserve nothing, but, somehow, I had everthing. Out loud I said, “Is this what grace is?”

And I knowed I had what it took, whatever it was, to do whatever needed doing, and whatever I done would be blessed, and I had everthing I ever needed or hoped for, beyond my desire, beyond my ken.