god’s “Amazing Grace”
Aunt Gracie doesn’t believe in television
We have to keep it turned off when she visits
She also doesn’t show her legs, or cut her hair
She needs to keep it long to wash Uncle Don’s feet in Heaven
At least that’s what she says
Aunt Gracie only visits when it’s raining a month after your birthday
When she comes I have to cover up and watch my mouth
She brings gifts of homemade preserves and cinnamon bread
You can taste her sincerity in her cooking just as you can see her faith her in eyes
When she says “I’m praying for you” you actually believe it
Even if you have been raised to believe nothing at all
Aunt Gracie is younger then Grandma but looks 20 years older
Her skin leather tough and calloused from the hard life Grandma ran from
Aunt Gracie works the farm, and smuggles Bibles into Russia
Grandma is on her second vodka soaked husband and works for the IRS
Aunt Gracie has only ever loved Uncle Don, second to her God
Aunt Gracie has seen all the dirt villages of the world and has [seen] her faith
She takes her first family on a mission to Japan
and loses all 4 of her children when her boat capsizes
She doesn’t grieve them but celebrates them with a prayer and a potato salad picnic
god needed them more than she did
At least that’s what she says
Aunt Gracie is an angel my father believed
How could she not be after facing so much loss?
But I wonder how anyone could be so selfless
My father dies and I can’t even look at her smile or amen’s
On her knees with the clasping of wrinkled hands she justifies gods plan once again
Aunt Gracie sings her praise at another funeral
This time it is my family that her God needed more
She has her faith and I have my anger
Who will wash a [non believers] feet in heaven?
I can’t even believe in her anymore
Not even in god’s “Amazing Grace”
