second Christmas

[The] master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

and I’m not sure how
all this fits
for what have we been in charge of
but
ourselves
so how by degree then for
eternity

for which we answer only for own

and yet by gift
by
talent given
as
well as our spirits

we might use to serve
and thus
there
is accountability
for
how much done by how much
invested

or lost what we have to someone else
which sounds
harsh
and unloving

and
despite how we might treat each other and
ourselves
we want an easy
judgment after
as
we think we are assured
with
the promise of an advocate

and yet
certain things are demanded
and
we will be forgiven though the call
is there
to keep using what we
have
that by the Lord
was gifted and so
assigned

and not
to do this for a show
but
in the quiet like
Saint Nicholas

as man or woman
one
or more
share
the gold of who we are and what
we have

not
to amaze but one
perhaps or
few and then to accept
the source of amazing that
is
someone else

who
gave us how much and to how many give
by truth and
love
employing

c l couch

Matthew 25:23, part of a parable (NIV, mostly)

photo by Liviu Florescu on Unsplash