“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him. … But the other criminal rebuked him. ‘… We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise'” (Luke 23:39-43, NIV).

He died—
the thief—
and yet,
before,
he’d cried for mercy
and, what’s more,
his tortured soul
had found relief.
He got
a death
that he deserved;
a Life
that he did not.
Taken by permission from “Ruth Bell Graham’s Collected Poems,” by Ruth Bell Graham, ©1977,1992,1997 The Ruth Graham Literary Trust.