A Modern Psalm

A Psalm of Edmond, when he lost his temper at his sons and felt like the worst dad in the planet. 

Oh Lord, Have mercy on me!

Please have mercy on me!

Do not turn your face away from me! 

For in my rage I acted like a brute beast 

My anger swirled like a violent tempest 

It consumed those closest to me 

Yes, even the infant, that was asleep on my chest,

was not spared from it

Projectiles were fired from my mouth

Warheads of destruction came bursting forth 

It laid waste to the heart 

Penetrating deep into the soul 

The walls trembled and the ground shook  

The toddler trembled as he watched from a distance 

Even his mother was roused from her deep slumber, 

her rest truncated by the wrath of my indignation

When at last I came to my senses 

When finally I whispered a scream of repentance 

I realized I was in a state of exhaustion

My soul, embittered in a deep mire of self-pity

What does the Lord owe to me that He should repay?

What goodness has the Lord withheld that He should remedy?

For I am deserving of nothing but wrath and perdition

Yet your kindness, yes your loving-kindness is always before me.

Lord if you count all our transgressions, who can stand before You? 

Lord if you treat us as our sins deserve, what hope have we to hold on to? 

Have mercy on me! 

Lord do not take Your Holy Spirit from me!

Let your smile of affirmation always be near me 

For I would rather disintegrate through a state of accelerated apoptosis 

than to be cast out from your presence

What shall I render to the Lord for His kindness? 

What shall I do in response to His love? 

I will humbly apologize to my sons 

And in the company of my wife, will I make amends 

I will declare His generosity and goodness in the assembly of the saints. 

And forever Lord will I parent circumspect-fully before You 

I will sing with joy and gladness to the Lord!

I will extol his attributes forever! 

I feel Your Spirit at work within my heart Lord,

Restoring my delight in your Word and virtues. 

Forever I will praise You! Yes forevermore I will praise You my God!