The finest Moroccan leather tome
sat regally on display,
the Bible from her grandma,
a gift on their wedding day.

Scarcely touched pages still snowy white
graced by golden filigree,
sitting safely inside the curio
for all passersby to see.

To have such a lavish copy as this,
one might say they’re quite blessed
but God looking down from heaven
felt sad rather than impressed.

She told herself she should read it
but with busy cares of life,
work, family and pressing plans,
with excuses her mind was rife.

So sacred writ sat there year after year
just merely a decoration
not life giving words to be read and loved
to procure a soul’s salvation.

****************************

But not very far away

on the other side of town

lay a Bible on an oaken coffee table

its cover, a faded brown.

Sticking out from the bottom of this tome

that looked to be bruised and battered,

blue ribbon that served as a bookmark

hung limply, its end frayed and tattered.

Upon opening the much used Book

the pages were yellowed and worn

many were scribbled with notes

and some damaged and slightly torn.

One look at this bestseller’s spine

revealed a binding quite loose.

There was even a page stained purple

from unexpected spilling of juice.

Tear stains were found throughout

that could not be denied

from the owner of this Blessed tome,

evidence she was moved and had cried.

Turning through the threadbare pages,

declared that its leaves were hue loaded,

with verses that with colored pencils

had been categorized and coded.

There were browns for repentance, blues for baptism,

reds for the Holy Ghost,

purples for holiness, greens for creation,

with the One God yellows, the most.

To the eye of the average beholder

this manuscript, not a pretty sight

but God looked down from Heaven

with wonder and delight.

For the Bible was never meant to be

just an ornamental frill,

but to be read and loved and believed

its wisdom, our lives to fill.

No treasures can be found

in pristine and unturned pages

only gold diggers of this Holy Book

can extract the Rock of Ages.

9/25/2020