Calling the Defendant to the stand:
The Lord giveth and He taketh away
Why?
I had a brother, my best friends, my person, my soulmate
It was as if God had made him just for me. I loved him as soon as I met him. I never left his side.
I wasn’t always nice, but I always protected him. As children sharing a room and bed, I slept on the edges to keep away the monsters.

The Lord giveth and He taketh away
Why?
I had a brother, my only dance partner, my movie buddy, my personal comedian
God fashioned an entertainer, a charmer seemingly just for me.
I always laughed at his jokes, even those at my expense
He was Fred, Dean, and Jerry all in one

The Lord giveth and He taketh away
Why?
I had a brother, my best friend, my person, my soulmate
In the history of creation God made siblings who cheated, abandoned, and killed one another
And then He made mine

The Lord giveth and He taketh away
Why?
The Lord could have given me a Cain, Jacob, or Judah to taketh away
But Lord, you gave me my other half, my better half
Why did it have to be so much better?
Why did it have to be so good?
Surely, there must have been others more deserving with stronger hearts

The Lord giveth and He taketh away
Why?
I am not angry, or sore
I just don’t understand
If the Lord must taketh
Why give something so good in the first place

The Lord giveth and He taketh away
Why?
You are God, you are Great
I do not pretend to know you or understand you in any way
But like Job before me, I humbly bring my case against you
Defend yourself!
Not for your sake, but my own

The Lord giveth and He taketh away
Why?
Maybe he was never ‘mine’
That is my vanity, my sin
He was always yours to do with as you please
As am I
But Lord did it really please you to put him with me
Where is the beauty in such a cruel act

The Lord giveth and He taketh away
Why?
I know people who curse their siblings
What did they do to deserve on another!?
Did I pass some test in your eyes?
Did I fail in some way?
In your Great Wisdom
Was it necessary for me to love him
And not love or hate someone else?

The Lord giveth and He taketh away
But Why?!?
I cannot command you to answer
But I beseech you.
In your heart, in your love Do you know my grief?
With great care you formed me, so you must
Do you grieve with me?
You once made yourself man, so you must
But do you understand what you have done to me?
What I do to myself?
I beg of you on my knees and cry out for you to answer me

You giveth and You taketh away
But why?