“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, 1984).

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” ©1977, 1992, 1997 Ruth Graham Literary Trust.