Théodore Chassériau, An Angel Praying in the Garden of Olives (1840)
The Heartbreak
how did You pray for him that day
did You pray for strength, forbearance, courage
or did You hope he wouldn’t do it after all
so You wouldn’t have to watch
so Your heart wouldn’t have to break
just to heal the heartbreak
and the distance of Your children
from Your love
what did You think as You knelt in the Garden
when all that was left to be done was the heartbreak
did You feel the Father’s eyes begin to look away to hide
from the heartbreak
did You see the angels who watched You and wept
and prayed that they wouldn’t have to watch
what will was there to be done
the heartbreak
or the living
with four, whispered words You held the strength of all the Godhead
I cannot conceive that strength
to hold together a God’s breaking heart
but I can conceive the love
Thy will be done
Plagal Cadence 