I did not win a short story contest
I did not get a job as the director of an ESL program
I did not convince a church to protect its children
I did not lose the last 30 pounds
I did not fix my adopted children
I did not know my children were being abused

I have never convinced my mother I am not a monster
I have never convinced my adopted daughter to get the help she needs
I lost Veronica.
My adopted son is a pedophile.
And in a comical twist, I was reminded (again) that I was a graceless knucklehead when I was younger
Good reminder–I still am.

Not famous
Not “successful”
Increasingly wrinkled.

But
I know a man
Who spent one day
Being a complete loser
For me
And when things get hard
I hear his voice
Echoing through the wreckage–
Don’t worry, little one,
Just follow Me.