Lord,
You know how short I have fallen
in trusting others who want to share,
their hearts,their souls,their lives
with me.

Somewhere from my dark and distant past
I have lost the courage to trust
without fear, or sadness
To open up completely
To take the hand that reaches out
in reassuring ways

To believe that they may really care
I want to  feel the bond of friendship,
 with hope and love
carefully discerning those
that may pretend
To  share my joy, my  pain, my life..

Lord, help me to see
That not everyone I meet
Expects more of me
Than I have to give...
Help  me to believe in myself
As much as I want to believe in others.

from the heart of Bill
{ Olds 100 }