There once was a girl of talent and beauty,

Who had made perfection her central duty.

Each day, in her mirror, she examined her countenance,

Every day in her studio, she mastered a new dance.

In her library, she devoured great tomes with ease.

And her grasp of linguistics was sure to please.

On her walls hung masterpieces, created by her hand.

Compared with her skill, even Da Vinci could not stand.

She often would examine herself and sigh,

“In the world, who alone is more perfect than I?”

And one day the Lord heard her conceited musing,

And decided she needed to experience losing.

He appeared to her and said, “How can you not know,

That you are so gifted, because I made it so?”

She replied to him, “Yes, and I thank you most dearly,

For making the most perfect human being… well nearly.”

The good Lord sighed, for he could see her great pride;

The self-satisfaction that she held inside.

He determined that she should be put to a test,

So that she might realize who really was best.

He said, “My dear child, I have something to show you,

And in order to view it, there is something we must do.

Away we must travel, into the past,

To witness perfection that will forever last,”

So off they flew through space and time,

The scenes flashing by were quite sublime.

Suddenly they stopped and the colors once bright,

Had faded to reveal a cold summer’s night.

By the light of a star, the girl saw a shed.

She barely made it out as she tilted her head.

As she drew nearer, with the Lord at her side,

The walls of the shed seemed to grow wide.

She realized instead that a stable was before her.

She saw it now that it was no longer a blur.

The Lord said, “Look inside, and tell me what you see,

And perhaps you will learn from this simplicity.”

She approached the doorway and peered inside,

Trying to guess where the secret might hide.

But nothing there seemed of any importance.

Could it be that poor family over there, perchance?

The Lord said, “Well, did you find it then?”

Did you discover perfection or must you look again?”

She replied, “There was nothing. I have nothing to tell,

Except that the barn had a terrible smell.

I did see two people, a man and his wife.

And a newborn baby that just began life.

But how is that perfection? They were nothing special.

They were poor and dirty and in haystacks they nestle.”

The Lord shook his head for she had not perceived,

The perfect love from its parents that the child received.

So on to their next stop they whisked away.

When they stopped again it was a different day.

Thirty years had gone by since that cold summer’s night.

Now the baby was a man wearing a garment of white.

All around him were people of the vilest breed.

Prostitutes and sinners, all filthy indeed.

Yet the man treated each like a precious jewel.

To the world around him, he looked quite the fool.

God said, “Do you see now? Surely it is clear.

Tell me you see it now that we are here.”

The girl was quite puzzled, nothing here was pleasant.

Only ugliness, shame and flaws were present.

So she asked, “How is there perfection in people so base?

Not one has a hint of beauty on his face.

And they lack any talent that would set them apart.”

At her words the Lord felt a pang in his heart.

Why could she not see the love that it took,

To make a friend of the lowliest crook?

For God loved them all, no matter how criminal.

To him each deserved love, unconditional.

There was one final scene God wished her to see,

Of a man who had been painfully hung on a tree.

So off they went arriving at that terrible day.

When the Lord freed his people by taking their sin away.

She looked upon his face and saw so much pain.

His arms outstretched under terrible strain.

Tears flooded her eyes as suddenly she proclaimed,

“Why would he allow himself to be so terribly maimed?

I have heard this story many times before,

Of how Jesus died and to heaven opened the door,

But I could never understand what was his motivation,

To give his life for those who deserved damnation.

Those sinners were wicked, why should they be saved?

Why should Jesus to their sins be enslaved?”

“Why indeed?” said the Lord “After all that you saw,

You must surely see that even you have flaw.

No human is perfect no matter how great,

For truly perfection is never their fate.

All people need mercy, compassion, and care.

The comfort of knowing that a friend is there.

They will sometimes err and be in the wrong,

But they will not be without my forgiveness for long.

All people are good, I created them thus.

And I will always be here for them, in God they can trust.

My son died to save them as I watched from above.

“I see it all now,” she said, “the answer is love!

Love makes a person endure great trial,

To bring happiness to another, if only for awhile.

Love is forever, through centuries it lives,

It is the only gift that, for eternity, gives.”

“You have guessed it my child,” God said with a grin.

But the girl’s face fell as realization set in.

She had lived her life for herself alone.

She suddenly said, “How heartless I’ve grown.”

Thinking only of myself, I abused my talents.

But to make up for it, love will be my penance.

I promise, most solemnly, to put myself third.

I will always love others, I give you my word.”

The Lord was overjoyed, for she had discovered the truth,

That perfection does not lie in beauty or youth.

Perfection lies in love, most true and most dear,

Love that gives freely and without fear.

God is such love. He is perfect, its true.

And just as perfect is the love he gives you.