13 Comments
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Fotini Masika's avatar

Thank you for sharing this, Kristine. It is a beautiful poem!

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Kristine Neeley's avatar

Thank you ❤️

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26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)'s avatar

Poignant and beautiful, Kristine. Thank you.

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Kristine Neeley's avatar

Thank you, Elizabeth!

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Maria Hanley's avatar

Really beautiful, Kristine. I have three sons, but no daughters. When I found out the third was a boy, I wasn't sad, really; I hadn't hoped for one or the other, in all honesty (and how can you hold a new baby in your arms and wish for anything else?) But I did feel something, and I understood it to be a reckoning with the truth that I would not experience having a daughter in this lifetime. Just like I won't climb Everest or skydive, I just won't have that experience. And that's okay. But I do so enjoy these windows into the experience, so thank you.❤️

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Kristine Neeley's avatar

Thank you for sharing that reflection with me, Maria! Our boys have so much to teach us, too, don't they? I'm sure your life will be no less rich with three of them!

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Annelise Roberts's avatar

Kristine, after four boys, I now have this sweet two year old girl who wants nothing more than me looking in her face all day long. I think the Lord was gracious to wait for long enough that I could (I hope) walk out this tension. It is the hardest and sweetest thing. Thank you for sharing this tender poem ❤️

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Kristine Neeley's avatar

Thank you for reading, Annelise!

I often think of the moment we found out at 20 weeks I was carrying a daughter. I thought I’d be so thrilled, either way, so I couldn’t make sense of the fear that immediately flooded my body. I was at a loss.

It took awhile to unpack that (even still) and the landscape of why has grown even more grim on one side — while my relationship to my girl has grown brighter. It’s been a re-formation and refining… and I’m so beyond grateful for the goodness of that in the midst of pain.

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Margaret Ann Silver's avatar

The reading is beautiful (and it's such a beautiful poem).

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Kristine Neeley's avatar

Thank you! 🥹

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Jody L. Collins's avatar

"Then in the slow form of an old hymn, pray

words of revelation, sung salvation,

new ways to be human."

Wow, Kristine, 'new ways to be human.' So powerful.... what a poem.

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Kristine Neeley's avatar

Thank you so much, Jody! That means a lot to me! ❤️

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Cliff's avatar

Thank you for sharing, Kristine. What a wonderful poem.

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