The Kingdom of Heaven Like a Treasure

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
“Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
Matthew 13:44-52

The Kingdom of Heaven Like a Treasure
a poem from a grateful mother

I read your words on the page
and tears well up in my eyes
you are still the little brown haired girl
somersaulting on the beach at sunset
you are still the one with blue hair in a helmet
you are still the one clearing the ER
you three are my treasures sent from heaven.

I see the work you do with pride
I laugh when we talk on the phone
I still see missing teeth and summer showers
hoses and shampoo in the back yard
the days went by so quickly I prayed
and God sent me angels.

God sent me angels with sweet singing voices
and tough attitudes who scare priests
southerners and lacrosse opponents
and who weep when the stars fall from the sky.

God sent me pearls
of great price with equal parts of folk fest
rock and roll and sacred music
and full kind hearts who see friends
in the darkest corners of the earth.

There is no field I would buy
there is no pearl or jewel I will pursue
not full nets that would substitute
for God's kingdom on earth
that I know in your smiles.