The police officer stood and faced his God,
Which for all must come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.
“Step forward now, officer. How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To my church have you been true?”
The officer squared his shoulders and sighed,
”No, Lord, I’ll be straight,
Those of us who carry a badge
Can’t always be a Saint”
I’ve had to work most Sundays
And I’m sorry I kept silent
And sometimes I’ve been a little tough,
Because the streets are awfully violent.
But I never took a penny,
That wasn’t mine to keep.
And tried to keep my ethics clean,
Walking the sewer of the street.
And I never passed a cry for help,
Just because I shook with fear,
And please, God forgive me
I’ve wept so many tears.
I know I don’t deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around before,
Except to calm their fear.
If you’ve a place for me, Lord,
It needn’t be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
but if you don’t...I’ll understand.
There was a silence all around the throne
Where the Saints had often trod.
And the officer waited quietly
For the judgment of his God.
“Step forward now, officer.
You’ve borne your burdens well.
Come walk a beat on Heaven’s streets.
You’ve done your time in Hell.”
Author Unknown
(taken from Florida On Patrol, a
publication fo the Fraternal Order of Police)
Job 23:10 "But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will
come forth as gold."
