| THE PEARLS PAGE 2 |
The ambulance crew took him away Sirens screaming down the block Mama, too....she wouldn't leave him As Jacob stood there alone, in shock! In anger and desperation He blindly kicked the front door shut He needed a fix...He'd have to find Something to sell...but what? Then all at once, it hit him Mama's antique pearls!!! They'd fetch a pretty sum, indeed To hell with the oldest girl! Racing to his parent's bedroom He quickly looked around; Till he spotted the tiny wooden chest And grabbed it without a sound! He dumped the contents on the bed Searching for the strand... A second later he fled the house Mama's dream clutched in his hand Two pawnshops later, the cash was his Earned with treachery and lies He vaguely knew he'd not go back That he'd severed all the ties He knew he'd never have the nerve After the evil thing he'd done To see how Mama would react To this betrayal by her son... And so he struck out on his own Without ever looking back Years went by and still he stayed Addicted to the drug called "crack" To him crime was a way of life For his one and only goal Was money for the addiction Which owned him body, heart and soul He never thought about the past Kept the memories locked inside He'd never heard or even cared If Papa had pulled through or died Then once again, he went to prison This time, for five long years And finally after all this time His head began to clear Fogged so long with drugs and pain When memory did return... It brought disgust and horror Causing bitter tears to burn! He felt beyond forgiveness Knew the guilt would never cease He allowed himself no hope at all Thought only death would bring release The prison chaplain used to visit With each prisoner once a week And although he always offered Jacob refused to even speak... |
Then one day in desperation The minister whispered, "Jesus knows! About all the things you've ever done Even the worst...especially those!" But Jacob never moved a muscle And the poor man gave up with a sigh, He'd felt compelled to help this boy Unsure exactly why... So the next time he approached the cell His old heart skipped a beat When Jacob motioned to him Though still staring at his feet... "Could I come in? We'll have a talk?" The prisoner gave a sheepish nod For hours the preacher sat and talked About Heaven, sin and God... He explained about forgiveness Telling how only Jesus could Forgive all sin...He'd paid the price On a cross made out of wood But Jacob sadly shook his head "Forgiveness isn't for everyone... Even God would be disgusted By the awful things I've done!" Then the old man took his hand "Son, you're the reason Jesus died! He sent me here to tell you so! Then he held Jacob as he cried. So ten years now had almost passed Exactly to the day When Jacob first had asked the Lord To wash his sins away... |
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