The watch kept ticking. So did the rain. And someone Opened the door. She came in shaking from the cold, A cardboard box against her chest. The water took the little house, And everything she couldn't rescue. Photographs and birthday cards, A broken frame, a paper rose. A thousand things that meant the world To someone nobody would know. I had no miracle to offer, No silver lining, no grand design. I made some coffee, found a blanket, And gave her somewhere safe to cry. She didn't ask me where God was. She didn't need another prayer. She only asked, "Could you stay here?" And so I pulled another chair. CHESED! I CANNOT STOP THE RAIN! I cannot bring the lost days back, I cannot take away your pain! But I can hold the door against the wind, I can be here when the night begins. No crown of gold! No saving grace! Just two lost people In the same small place. And when the world has walked away... I'LL BE THE HAND THAT STAYS! I used to think that love was fire, I used to think that love was fire, A mountain burning through the night. A perfect word, a grand confession, A thousand candles burning bright. But love is washing someone's dishes When they haven't slept for days. It's sitting through the long appointments, It's learning all their quiet ways. It's knowing when to stop the questions, When words are only making noise. It's standing in the kitchen doorway, And letting someone have a choice. No angels came down through the ceiling. No revelation split the sky. She drank the coffee. Held the blanket. And finally She closed her eyes. CHESED! I CANNOT STOP THE RAIN! I cannot bring the lost days back, I cannot take away your pain! But I can hold the door against the wind, I can be here when the night begins. No crown of gold! No saving grace! Just two lost people In the same small place. And when the world has walked away... I'LL BE THE HAND THAT STAYS! But I have given till I'm empty, Mistaking sacrifice for love. I've tried to carry every burden And found that I was not enough. Some hands will take until you're bleeding. Some wounds refuse the help you bring. And kindness without any boundaries Can slowly break the kindest thing. I know that love is not surrender. I know that mercy has a cost. But I refuse to call it wisdom To leave the hurting where they're lost. Don't tell me pain is necessary! Don't tell me suffering makes us wise! Don't build a temple out of sorrow And call the darkness paradise! If heaven has a thousand answers, Then let it answer from above! Down here the world is cold and hungry, And someone needs a little love! A LITTLE LOVE! I cannot heal the universe. I cannot make the dead return. But there is someone at the doorway. And there is coffee. And there's room. CHESED! LET THE HEAVENS KEEP THEIR RAIN! I cannot bring the lost days back! I cannot take away your pain! But I can stand beside your sorrow, I can face another tomorrow! No perfect world! No sacred plan! Just one small promise From one human hand! And when the lights have burned away, When every word has lost its place... I'LL BE THE HAND! I'LL BE THE HAND! THE HAND THAT STAYS! The storm moved east. The morning came. She stood up slowly And said my name. I didn't save her. I didn't try. I held the door. She stepped outside. And for a moment... The world was kind.
