"It can be but my gratitude I earn.

You make attempts at kindness and forgiveness.
Yet you turn them to attack again,
unless you find external gratitude and lavish thanks.
Your gifts must be received with honor,
lest they be withdrawn.

And so you think God's gifts are loans at best;
at worst, deceptions which would cheat you of defenses,
to ensure that when He strikes He will not fail to kill.

How easily are God and guilt confused
by those who know not what their thoughts can do.

Deny your strength,
and weakness must become salvation to you.
See yourself as bound, and bars become your home.

Nor will you leave the prison house,
or claim your strength,
until guilt and salvation are not seen as one,
and freedom and salvation are perceived as joined,
with strength beside them, to be sought and claimed,
and found and fully recognized.

The world must thank you when
you offer it release from your illusions.
Yet your thanks belong to you as well,
for its release can only mirror yours.

Your gratitude is all your gifts require,
that they be a lasting offering of a thankful heart,
released from hell forever.

Is it this you would undo by taking back your gifts,
because they were not honored?

It is you who honor them and give them fitting thanks,
for it is you who have received the gifts.

 It does not matter if another thinks your gifts unworthy.
In his mind there is a part that joins
with yours in thanking you.

 It does not matter if your gifts seem lost and ineffectual.
They are received where they are given.
In your gratitude are they accepted universally,
and thankfully acknowledged by the Heart of God Himself.

God blesses every gift you give to Him,
and every gift is given Him,
 because it can be given only to yourself."