A good fight

We are like boxers,
You and I
Battered, bloody in our corner
One eye puffed closed
All sweat and spit and tears.

The battle is not over
We wait for the bell that
Calls us back to it.
But for these moments in the corner
There is rest for the soul.
Coach to trainee
Whispers encouragement
The fight is not lost,
Take a breath.
You are tougher than you think

You can take a punch
It staggers you
But
Only for a moment
You wipe the tears and sweat from your eye
And leap back flailing
Not a punch in anger
But the gentle blows of love,
Joy peace patience kindness
Goodness, gentleness, faithfulness
And perhaps the trickiest finesse move of all
Self control.

Through every round shouts of encouragement –
Because there is a trainer who cares for you
And a Manager who loves perfectly well.

“There’s no quit in this one”
a confident voice comes to you
low, through the raucous din.
You bob, you weave, you fall back,
Up again in a moment.
No quit. Not this time.
Accusers at ringside jeer
“Nothin’ left! Give it up!”

You go on.
You won’t quit.
You fight a good fight.