His Dutch Reformed mother
immersed him in guilt —
even over milk spilt.
His shame raised, Swedish father
scripted him in shame;
he was always to blame.
And so he’s ashamed that he has guilt,
and guilty about all the shame.
It’s a double whammy, self-blame game.
For all the guilt and shame,
there’s not much space
for God’s grace,
but given just an inch
and a very small pinch,
God’s grace
will fill the space
in
vacated by
the now fleeing
guilt and shame —
He’s on his way from playing the double
whammy, self-blame game.