Can a leopard change his spots??

Can a Leopard change his spots?

When I look back upon my life, and all that it has meant,
I wish I’d realised before, that love was Heaven sent.
For all of my pre Christian days, I relied on only me,
I made a lot of huge mistakes ’til Jesus set me free.

I always was professional, at all my work performed,
Not so easy to get to know, but everybody warmed.
Relationships with women, were blighted from the start,
Although I was a part of them, they didn’t have my heart.

It was however, outside work, my life was not the best,
I intimidated some and often made them, sadly, quite depressed.
Still sorting others problems out, at 43 years old,
The word some used was ‘cocky’ and yes, I was very bold.

I used my strength, sometimes my fists, when sorting problems out,
I was a nasty piece of work, please don’t have any doubt.
Drank like a fish and smoked so heavy, swore so very much,
Little respect for anyone, until I was really ‘touched’

God/Jesus/Holy Spirit came and zapped me one fine night,
And I was such a different man, when came the morning light.
The smoking, I’d often tried to stop, but my will was really weak,
I got on my knees in earnest and with God now I would speak.

‘’Lord you know I’ve tried so hard, to give the smoking up,
Please take away the cravings now and help me please to stop’’.
I never craved a cigarette and never smoked again,
The miracle He performed in me, was absolutely plain.

I also greatly cut the drink, but indulge now and again,
But I don’t so need the drink these days, it’s easy to refrain.
My swearing, though it was so bad, was quick to disappear,
My manner now more ‘meek and mild’, gets better every year.

My life is so much easier where I used to be in knots,
With Jesus all is possible….A leopard can change his spots.

Michael J Hill © July 2019.