EVE
by Joyce Carr Stedelbauer
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EVE
Eve of Paradise Garden, the most prestigious address.
Bowered in morning glories, blest with midnight mist,
draped with passion flowers, riotous roses without thorns,
honeysuckled bees, new bird songs every morn.
Lions and lambs gamboled under willow wind,
white tigers strolled with deer ‘round river bend.
Fresh from the Creator’s hand, beauty full blown,
drawn from Adam’s side, loved as his own.
Together talked with God in sunset glory,
revealing the plan for humanity’s story.
Bounteous provision for drink and food,
everything that grew pronounced good,
except one central tree of all knowledge.
Forbidden, not even to touch the edge?
You knew the sound of wisdom, but heard another voice,
listened, pondered, deceived, made your deadly choice.
Quickly found your husband, eager to share,
suddenly weighted with fear and despair.
You had it all, but wanted more, a legacy
to sisters who succumb to the seducer.
We like to think we would not have fallen,
yet stumble over pride, claiming to keep the law,
audaciously blaming you for all our problems
sorrier for our circumstances than our sin.
We should weep for you and ourselves, when
seeing what we really are, lonely, confused,
searching restlessly to find all that is best.
Eve, my sister, God was not through with you.
Clothed in lion’s blood, moved you due
east of Eden, closed the gate of Paradise,
posted angels with flaming swords like ice,
protecting you from tasting the Tree of Life,
whence would come eternal punishment and strife.
Toiling with your husband, work never done,
loving, birthing, suffering pain and joy as one.
Regret, sorrow, longing, breaking your heart,
where was God, now, what was His part?
He was as close as your prayer,
love and great grace waiting there,
for you and me. In repentance, I understand,
by the Lamb’s life we are held in His hand.
Mercy unlimited, shadow of the Cross,
Paradise regained, at such great cost!
-Genesis 1
Used with permission by Joyce Carr Stedelbauer from her book “Have You Met Eve?”
TATE PUBLISHING, LLC
127 East Trade Center Terrace
Mustang, Oklahoma 73064
TODAY's Thought: Daily Devotional 
