Another Song

Hello all. The thread on the song "Voices..." inspired me to post this. I am a voice teacher, and I'm working with a student on a song by Stephen Schwartz called "Forgiveness' Embrace" which really struck me and I wanted to share it. I know that healing takes a LONG time and is a process that many are just beginning and some are in the middle of, so this song may not be where many people are in their journey. But it speaks of healing and the goal and result of healing and even if you're not there, I found it a hopeful picture of what the destination looks like. Here it is: I have served a full life sentence as a prisoner of my past As a victim of a victim of a victim Seems my parents' parents' parents left traps that held me fast And they still catch me even when I think I've licked 'em Well I have blamed them I have fought them But I never understood All they really did was did the best they could Is there a way to rise above If I look at them with love Though I look at them full honest in the face Can I make my peace at last With the pieces of my past And enfold them in forgiveness' embrace I forgive my poor flawed parents for the things they could not be I forgive my valiant lovers for not completing me And the hardest thing of all now I forgive myself the sin of not being all I planned and all I think I should have been But there's an alchemy in time Transforms each grief and loss and scar Into the precious stuff of who we are And there's a way to rise above If I look at them with love Though I don't deny that harm has taken place I can make my peace at last With the pieces of my past And enfold them in forgiveness' embrace Some call it wisdom And some just call it grace When we make our peace at last With the pieces of the past And enfold them in forgiveness' embrace I will enfold them in forgiveness' embrace