Circles drawn to exclude the unworthy
Surround her in the lonely, darkening cold.
Heart-hungry, she reaches out to cross the barricades,
Those frozen, smiling, polite but solid barricades.
Her plea for acceptance meets courteous, smiling refusal
From each circle. Responses differ only in shades

Not pretty enough,
Not rich enough,
Not fashionable enough,
Not vocal enough,
Not perky enough,
Not poised enough,
Not smart enough
Never enough.

Broken by the frozen "No!" cut into her heart,
Weeping silently, she sinks slowly to the ground below.
Then a gentle touch opens her eyes to see
An outstretched Hand, scarred but strong and whole.
She takes His Hand, and He lifts her above the barricaded circles
Forevermore to be accepted in the great realm of His Heart.