Instructions on friendship with analogies to glassware

Isabelle Gross

Gather the theological virtues,

Faith and trust, hope that these are not misplaced,

A good measure of charity, spilling

Into the cracked glass of my exposed heart.

I have loved and I have sacrificed—

I was cut, my soul shattered by mere words

Faith mislead, hopes false, love—I thought—wasted.

Yet I see my savior with his arms wide

Open and his heart pieced—an offering

Of love, with faith in his father and hope-

For redemption, and friendship with us all.

He said: I have given you an example—

So I will not hide my heart away, and

I will give my friend an empty mason

Jar. she promised to make me applesauce.