The New Way

Ever since Owen was young he couldn’t help but compare

He’d looked at himself and others, often thinking  “Life’s just not fair.”

There were things he was good at, 

But others always seemed better. 

He could knit scarves but then again, his sister could knit sweaters. 

Owen loved his friends and was in awe of the gifts they had. 

But when he compared himself, he couldn’t help but feel sad. 

Val could draw the most beautiful flowers, 

“Wow Val, I could sit and watch you paint for hours.”

Mary could make anyone laugh until their cheeks hurt

“Oh Mary, you made milk squirt out of my nose onto my shirt!”

Steph could find any lost toy, she always knew where everything went 

“Steph, you found my lost teddy! You’re heaven sent!”

Thara could sing the most apathetic soul to tears

“When I hear your voice, I thank God for my ears!” 

Phil could build magnificent, marvelous towers

“Wow, I’m convinced that you have super powers!” 

Owen would often wonder what was his gift

What could he make? Whose spirits could he lift? 

Tired of thinking about it alone, he asked his dad one day, 

“Daddy, Why did God make me this way?”

“What do you mean, my son?” papa replied.

“Boring, with no gifts… or talents.” Owen sighed. 

Papa was taken aback and looked at his son with surprise

“Dear son, who has told you these lies?”

Perhaps Owen had more to say but his tears wouldn’t allow 

He couldn’t stop the tears, he didn’t know how./Sorry Daddy, I would stop crying but I don’t know how.”  

“Owen, do you remember just last night?”

You shared your poem with me “Moonbeams and Moonlight.”

Yes, I remember, but why does that matter?

Owen was sad, but now his dad was sadder. 

“Son do you know that your poems have brought me to tears?

They’ve made me smile and carried me through my darkest years.” 

“Your sister shows love in her own way, 

She cooks my favorite meals for me just about everyday.”

“But you show me love through your writing, *pause*

When I was battling grief, I knew I wasn’t alone in my fighting.”

Owen began to understand as they both remembered his mom 

She had a special way of making them both feel peace and calm. 

They missed her smile and silly sounds, 

Most of all they just missed having her around. 

Owen looked at his dad’s eyes and realized he had it all wrong

He realized he didn’t have to be the strongest to be strong. 

He didn’t have to be the best in order to try

All he needed to do was love others and understand his why.

Loving people was something he could always do

And no one could love in the exact same way he knew. 

The way people love is never the same

Owen saw now that comparison was always a losing game.

“No one knows me the way you do,” said his Dad.

“No one could have written those poems the way you had.”

Owen wiped his tears and leaned in tight,

He felt thankful for who he was in his father’s sight. 

He no longer felt the need to be the best or to compare

He only felt thankful that everyone, including him, was rare. 

“Yes, daddy, you’re right, each person is unique and one of a kind.

And imagine how magnificent it is when our gifts are combined!” 

With a smile, his dad said, “Yes, you and your sister love me better together than apart.

And there’s certainly more than enough room for both of you in my heart.“

Owen thought to himself, It is beautiful  that people can love each other in their different ways.

Now I see how comparing only leads to wasted time and wasted days.  

With resolve, he whispered to his dad, 

“From now on I’ll focus not on what others have, but what I can give

This is the new way that I want to live.”