I must have been blind,
or else very unfortunate
to have missed what I know now
to have lived my life until this point
in the shadow of a cloud that is life without
the knowledge of your smile, our your laugh, or your touch

But then you came,
not like a flash of lightning, surprising me with its intensity and force
but like a gentle sunrise
rising steadily over everything I know and bathing the world in a light
and beauty I felt I had always known, but never been awake to see

and when I finally did awake to the warmth and glow of your presence
my eyes were dazed
for I knew no beauty before you.

I must have been a child,
or else extremely frail
to have been idle all this time,
to have been contented until now
without digging the foundation and hammering the nails
and tying the knots on the beams that hold together a man, and his faith, and his family

But then you came
and you did not come like the warning of a harsh winter
making men dig hasty footing in hopes of surviving only the worst of times.
You came like the promise of a beautiful spring
waking me from my slumber to plant and sow
and nourish the ground of our love and home
to last through all the trials of time, and all of the seasons of our life

And when I had seen what we had built together with only faith, hope, and love
I was amazed
for I knew no strength before you

And now here I am
swimming in the light of your beauty
and surging with the strength of your heart
and where else can I go, what else shall I do but spend my life in this place
for I knew no Love before you.