If I Err

If I am to err
let it be in love.

If I am to err in loving,
let it be that I love too freely
that I am too compassionate
that I extend too much grace
Grace, scandalous grace.

If I am to err in living,
let it be that I lived too passionately
that I delighted too much in God
and His creation
and the wonder of this body He has given me.

If I am to err in raising my children,
let it be that I taught them
to love too freely
and judge too little
but never the other way around.

If I am to err in my relationships,
let it be in kindness.
Let me never label others as "those people" -
"those gays"
"those Muslims"
"those sluts"
For shame
to reduce a person.
How about
those mothers
    brothers
        daughters
those beloved creations of God.

It would be better
not to err at all.
Grant me wisdom and discernment
to know what to say, do, believe.
But
if I am to err
let it be in love.