I Am...Strong

Eight years old, not sure who to be,

Playing with my cats young, wild, and free.

Not thinking in ten years where I would stand

Various beliefs in this life, views on this land.

In my room when tears often would stream down,

I’d reflect on my life with no one around.

Betrayed by friendships not knowing would end,

Left holes in my heart unable to mend.

Alone with my thoughts and shaming my ways,

Had to be reminded there are far more days.

To get hurt is hard but I must not dwell,

To fight back is wrong, I must not rebel.

Use my past to push forward for my future is ahead,

Thrive to be amazing, thrive to be undead.

Turn to love and joy to lead me afar,

The Lord has my heart shining above like a star.

A problem overcome through long nights and days,

The end hard to see when life is a maze.

Walking ahead naive of hardships as a teen,

The desire to be beautiful, the desire to be lean.

Each meal a debate with my body and mind,

Not how it should be, not how I was designed.

Work out every day without room for slack,

Turn away when my mother offers me a fine snack.

Losing pounds to become an image I admire,

Waiting years and years for this desire to expire.

As I sit in my room twenty years have come and gone,

Thanking God for my blessings allowing me to hang on.

Happy to have grown in my strength through years in college,

Embracing and sharing my acquired knowledge.

Always my life will have ups and downs,

Worried about my friendships or even my pounds.

But I know I can strive even though I am flawed,

For the Lord is my savior and He is my God.