O Canada

O Canada
You caught me off guard.
When I wasn't expecting it, you showed me your beauty.
When I was missing my home, you displayed your kindness.
When I thought I was just enduring you, I've found myself loving you.

I've come to appreciate your people: a tapestry of colors and culture.
It is your people that I will miss the most.
You are a country made up of many other countries, many languages, many skin tones, many stories to be heard.
In you, people have found a new beginning, a hope of a better life, a fresh start.

I find myself gazing out over your big, blue waters.
From the starfish and clams that dot the red sands of Prince Edward Island
to the loons coming up for air in the quiet lakes of Quebec,
I've been surprised by your tranquility and what makes you unique.

O Canada
You found a way into my heart
and I know I will never be the same.
When I return home, I will remember you with fondness.
I will remember the people that offered me friendship, those that loved my children well everyday.
I will remember the church that nurtured and carried me through some difficult days.
I will remember the trails near my house, the path to the school that I know so well.

I cannot say I do not long for home, but I must acknowledge how much you have stretched and taught me.
You have taken me on an adventure for which I am grateful.

God keep your land, glorious and free!
O Canada