Love Casts Out Fear

by Betsy Williams

Love Casts Out Fear

Houses floating down streets,
Cars smashed by fallen trees, people crying.
“Can it happen here?” I ask.
“Not likely,” Mama says as she holds me tight.
“But no matter what, I’ll do all I can to keep us together.”

Love casts out fear.

Here are some other things I’m afraid of:
Tornados
Tsunamis (which I’d never even heard of until last year)
Getting lost
Not having any friends.

Love casts out fear.

When I’m afraid I crawl inside myself
I freeze right where I am.
I don’t talk; I might say something wrong.
I don’t move; I might make it worse.
That’s when I most need a hug, or a friend to say
“C’mon, let’s play ball.”

Love casts out fear.

Every Sunday we say “Love is the spirit of this church.”
That means, “Go away fear,
We have something bigger and stronger than you.”
And every Sunday we promise each other
That we’ll stay together, that we’ll help each other,
That we’ll let love rule.

Love casts out fear.

illustration by Hunter S., Age12