Limitations Poem by Diana van den Berg

I am comfortable
Within the limitations
Of the grace
And the gifts
That God has given me.

I can’t fly a Boeing
But I can fly a dream.

I can’t build a skyscraper
But I can build a database.

I can’t flip a pancake
But I can flip some dreams
Into reality

And some trials
Into challenges

And some challenges
Into success.

I celebrate
The gifts God has given you
And you
And you

And I celebrate
How God has spread
His gifts all over the world
With generous love and wisdom
In such a way
That
If we all accept them
Within the grace and the limitations
That God has given us,
And if we all use them
For the betterment of all,
We, too, will sing
Louis Armstrong’s diamonds,
“I think to myself,
‘What a wonderful world’ ”.

Yes, I am comfortable
Within the limitations
Of the grace
And the gifts
That God has given me...

And, not having reached
Their boundaries yet,
How can I possibly
Not
Celebrate
Those precious
Limitations.

(2 October 2011)