<html aria-label="message body"><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space; font-size: 22px;">Welcoming the Unwelcome<br><br>You thought that by closing the door or turning away, <br>the unwelcome would know it was unwelcome and leave. <br>But the unwelcome doesn’t depart or disappear. <br>It doesn’t decamp, doesn’t dissolve, escape or evaporate <br>but instead the unwelcome stays.<br><br>The unwelcome lose their shine, their luster, or the glow<br>that keeps you chasing them<br>but even when dismissed and given short shift, <br>they still refuse to disappear.<br><br>They bide their time, <br>beaten down and banished,<br>until the day arrives <br>when once again they rise <br>and claim their place within your life.<br><br><br>Held in the arms of grace<br>the unwelcome abide<br>because if any of it belongs, <br>all of it belongs <br>and like it or not<br>the unwelcome <br>have a place <br>at the table of belonging .<br><br><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Marti Watterman</div></body></html>