I said, “Now brother, don’t you stumble.
Be so strong just for today!”
But then I walked before you,
And put sharp rocks along the way

I first took off my baggy jeans,
For it was just too hot
I then put on my shortest shorts,
Though I knew that I should not

I glanced back then to check on you,
Were you running fast like me?
But you were lagging far behind,
Even squinting, I could not see

“Brother!” I called, “Come this way!
It’s easier over here!”
But still I saw you less and less,
When you were once so near

The path I ran was easy,
The road was oh so wide
And yet you chose the other way,
Though I couldn’t understand why

I saw the beach far up ahead,
And thought I would undress
I removed my shorts and t-shirt,
Until only a bikini was left

I looked again and saw you linger,
For you would not keep pace
“Come on,” I shouted as I went,
“You have to run this race”

Yet as I watched you more and more,
You tripped onto your knees
“Sister, I can’t keep up with you,”
You said with desperate pleas

“Now brother! Stop your stumbling!”
I said, as I watched you weakly crawl
Then you looked at me with sadness,
“Sister, it was you who made me fall.”

By Emily Nelson
Emily and her husband KJ are students at the Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver. She is originally from Murfreesboro, TN and is the only Christian in her family.  She has been writing poetry for many years and was first published at age 11. For information on how to order her new book, go to www.facebook.com/mrskjnelson.