to my 16 year old self

to my 16 year old self:

i remember you

i remember the hours i stood before the mirror squandered hours wishing to be blue eyed and blond haired and sized 8

i remember feeling so low there was no looking up

i remember momma saying pretty is as pretty does

but the world was contradictory

in awarding the pretty over me

...{at least that’s what it looked like to me}

but as time wears on

i realize that the most beautiful faces are 

those that wear kindness on their brows and peace on their lips...

the most beautiful are those that wear love on their hands and healing in their words...

if I could free you from the chains of doubt I would

but you must do that yourself

I only wish that you had learned sooner to gaze into the eyes of the One who loves you most

to see your reflection there

you’d smash this worldly mirror and run from that place of doubt 

and you’d jump in that River of Grace sooner

and

be

free