Loved

by Cheryl Merrick

Through a childhood lens,

     distorted by immaturity,

I saw myself

as merely a tool,

of value only when

achieving another’s aims.

Later, I envisioned

a stern, unfeeling taskmaster

who inflicted continual pain

in an unrelenting effort to 

force me to grow.

Now, I know the tenderness

of a caring friend

who wants me to be happy

and is saddened when I suffer.

At last, 

because He is loving,

I feel loved.