a blessing for knowing and being known

Blessed are we with eyes to see the person right in front of us,
Not solely their faults or some future version of themselves
or the way they always do that thing that drives you nuts.
But as poetry incarnate,
as treasures to be beheld.

Blessed are you who notice the light in their eyes
or when that light dims.
You who scoot up close to their suffering,
though you might not have the right words to say.
You who bear witness to their life in its entirety—
the joys, the sorrows, the unfinishedness of it all.
You who cherish every story (even if you’ve heard it before),
listening without judgment
and without haste.

May your careful attention be met with others
who see you as the same bright light
and wonder that you are.

As you practice seeing and being seen,
may you remember that you too are a blessing
to all who have the privilege to know you.