By Daina O. Dixon

Teach me
How to find your hand
when it’s dark.
Not to laugh when you tell the plans you have for me.
To believe you’ll catch me when I fall.

Teach me how to trust you.

Teach me
How to love in this world of hate
How to show it and not just say it.
To be kind, to those who are mean.
How to smile when
They show me a frown.

Teach me how to love you Lord.

Teach me
How to see great
things in a lump of clay.
How to see the sun,
behind the clouds on a rainy day.
How to see tomorrow, today.
To find the switch in the dark.
How to turn things inside out.

Teach me how to hope.

Teach me
Not to be afraid of great heights.
Remind me!
That I am not the only one
In this battle, and that you won’t
let me wave the white flag.
Not to fight with my fists, but with my sword.
Not to hang my head down because of who I am,
But to stand up tall, for you are on my side…

And Lord, when I lose hope remind me
Of that last chapter in your holy book.

Teach me how to fight.

Teach me
How to ask before I take.
How to wait and not leap.
How to have a long
conversation with you everyday, rather than
cry out in dismay.

Teach me how to pray.

When you
Teach me how to pray,
Teach me how to control my temper, when you say no.
To remember that you know what’s best for me
More than I know.
To give up a few hours of what’s precious to me
and read those letters you wrote to me.
Remind me of the mustard seed.

Teach me how to have faith.

When I
Have faith teach me how to shut up
And let you speak.
To not cut in front of your words with my thoughts.
To not jump into conclusion before
You end your sentence.

Teach me how to listen.