Thơ: Linh-Ân Nguyễn Thiện Nhân
(Shop In Heaven’s Grocery Store)
Trong mơ: rảo bước đường đời,
Thiên-Ðàng Bách-Hóa mọc mời sáng choang,
Men gần chợt cửa mở toang,
Nào ngờ mình đã đàng hoàng bên trong,
Ðó đây Thiên-sứ thong dong,
Rằng con: “nhớ chọn hàng lòng ước-mơ”.
Hàng Tín-Hữu vẫn mong chờ,
Những hàng khó kiếm ngay giờ, tìm sau”.
Nhẫn-Nại, Yêu-Thương, dãy đầu,
Kế đến Thông-Cảm nhu cầu đó đây,
Khôn-Ngoan, Tin-Cậy túi đầy,
Thánh-Linh chẳng hiếm trưng bày khắp nơi.
Bền-Ðỗ, Can-Ðảm, giá hời,
Ấy quên ! Ân-Ðiển muôn đời thâm-sâu?
Còn ơn Cứu-Rỗi nhiệm mầu ?
Biếu không, nhận đủ nhu cầu anh tôi.
Quày trả tiền xếp hàng rồi,
Mua xong các món Chủ tôi dặn dò,
Ô kìa Khẩn-Nguyện hũ to,
Bưng ngay bỏ giỏ phòng lo tội đời.
Bình-An, Vui-Vẻ mắt ngời,
Bài-Ca Tụng Ngợi Vua Trời chẳng quên.
Bây giờ đến lượt trả tiền,
“Bao nhiêu hết thảy, cảm-phiền tính cho?”
Dịu-dàng Thiên-Sứ nhỏ to:
“Con mang khắp nẻo, chớ lo bạc tiền”.
Xin cho con trả kẻo phiền!,
“GIÊ-SU đã trả vẹn tuyền quên sao?”
Mỉm cười Thiên-Sứ cất cao.
Linh-Ân Nguyễn Thiện Nhân
(Chuyển-ngữ/Diễn ý)
Shop In Heaven’s Grocery Store
I was walking down life’s highway a long time ago.
One day I saw a sign that read Heaven’s Grocery Store.
As I got a little closer, the door came to open wide,
And when I came to myself, I was standing inside.
I saw a host of angels; they were standing everywhere.
And one angel said, “My child shop with care”.
Everything a Christian needed was in that grocery store.
And all you couldn’t carry, you could come back the next day for more.
First, I got some patience; love was in the same row.
Further down was understanding, you need that everywhere you go.
I got a box or two of wisdom, a bag or two of faith.
I just couldn’t miss the Holy Ghost for He was all over the place.
I stopped to get some strength and courage to help me run the race.
By then my basket was getting full, but I remembered I needed some grace.
I didn’t forget salvation, for salvation that was for free.
So, I tried to get enough of that to save you and me.
Then I started to the counter to pay my grocery bill.
For I thought I had everything to do my Master’s will.
As I went up to the aisle, I saw Prayer and just had to put that in.
For I knew when I stepped outside, I would run right into sin.
Peace and Joy were plentiful; they were on the last shelf.
Song and Praise were hanging near so I just helped myself.
Then, I said now how much do I owe?
He just smiled and said, just take them everywhere you go.
How much do I really owe?
He smiled and said, my child:
JESUS paid your bill a long time ago.
Lorene Woody