I WANT TO BE PERFECT
 

BEFORE I MET THE LORD

I USED TO BE QUITE CONTENT

WITH ALL MY FAULTS AND FAILINGS

AND MOST OF MY GOOD INTENTS.
 

I NEVER HAD THOSE GUILT ATTACKS

OR THOSE PANGS OF MY CONSCIENCE THAT HURTS

I FELT QUITE SELF-RIGHTEOUS (AND I'M SURE I WAS POMPOUS)

WHEN I GAVE MY APOLOGIES IN BLURTS.

I USED TO SMILE WHEN I LOOKED IN THE MIRROR

AND THOUGHT TO MYSELF "YOU'RE JUST FINE."

I ALWAYS FELT PROUD BEING SO WELL ENDOWED

AND AT BEING THE FIRST IN THE LINE.

AND SOMETIMES WHEN I STUMBLED

I LAUGHED AND SAID "OH, WELL."

GOD KNOWS I'M HUMAN AND APT TO FALL

HE WON'T REALLY SEND ME TO HELL."

I USED TO THINK I WAS ALRIGHT

NO BETTER OR WORSE THAN THE REST

BUT THEN ONE DAY, CHRIST LOOKED MY WAY

AND I SUDDENLY WANTED TO BE BEST!

I WANTED TO BE A BRIGHT SHINING STAR

PERFECT IN EVERY WAY

I WANTED TO BE HIS FAVORITE BELOVED

AND TO BRIGHTEN HIS EVERY DAY.

I WANTED TO BE THE SMARTEST AND BRIGHTEST

THE KINDEST AND SWEETEST OF ALL

STRIVING TO PLEASE AND WIN HIS APPROVAL

AND MAKING SURE I'D NEVER FALL.

SUDDENLY, I AM SO CONSCIOUS

OF MY EVERY FLAW AND DEFECT

THE THINGS I USED TO OVERLOOK

NOW LOSE ME SELF-RESPECT.

OH, LORD, I WANT TO BE PERFECT!

I WANT TO BE TRUSTED AND TRUE

WHEN I LOOK IN THE MIRROR AT MY HUMAN REFLECTION

I WANT TO BE LOOKING AT YOU.

AND I WANT YOU TO SEE YOURSELF IN MY EYES

I WANT YOU TO WALK ON MY FEET

AND SPEAK WITH MY MOUTH AND HEAL WITH MY HANDS

AND MAKE MY HUMAN JIGSAW COMPLETE.

OH, LORD, I WANT TO BE PERFECT!

LIKE YOU AND YOUR FATHER ABOVE

BUT UNTIL THE DAY THAT I WAKE UP THAT WAY

JUST LOVE ME WITH YOUR PERFECT LOVE.

 

 

END

by Rhonda  Jackson Sept 21, 1981