The Gifts

By John I. Blair

I’ve had friends
Whose actions left me angry.

One questioned how I spent my days,
Another who I was.

With years I’ve come to realize
My problems didn’t stem from them.

In fact they inadvertently
Gave gifts that I was slow to see:

I learned to look with honest eyes
At my ways and at my acts;

I learned about forgiveness
Both for them and for myself.

©2017 John I. Blair, 10/23/2017