The Journey

She set her teeth in a forced smile, And determinedly walked what seemed a mile To the ominous doors. When she touched the glass, Unknowingly a mask hid her beautiful face. They all thought they knew her, and she did, too, But now looking back she knows this wasn't true. She was a different person, a clone of each and all, And she scarcely even saw the step that made her trip and fall. But from the ground she looked up and saw who she used to be And she saw in the dirt the mask that had not allowed her to see So clearly who she had become. Her friends turned away, they did not recognize the girl without the mask. And though she tried, she could not get them to accept her when she asked. Her tears wasted away the remainder of "that girl" everyone knew, And now she sees that who she is was not really the one they knew. She reached out for help and desperately called for anyone to hear But until He offered her His help, she had not known He'd been so near. She could be herself with Him, she knew He would not judge. And she realized that He had picked her up out of the sludge Of all that she used to be but no longer was. Her momma, too, had helped of course, Had been to her such a loving source of comfort when needed most. Her daddy made her see that she was beautiful And that she needed no mask to hide the eyes which of tears were no longer full. "Your true colors," the three of them said, "Are what makes you you. If the people that you know refuse to accept that this is you, You have to see that they don't really love you." As hard as it was to accept this fact, She made with herself a solemn pact that to herself she would stay true. She stood and watched them slip away, Those who had refused to stay with the girl she truly was. He held her hand through the test and reminded her of her vow Whenever she tried to recede into the mask somehow. She was lonely for a while and confused as she strode to see The beautiful woman He had created her to be. But peace comes to those who hold His hand As He leads them through this perilous land, And so she grasped it firm and strong And prayed that if anything were to go wrong, He would pick her up again. And if you look, you can see the pair, Walking hand-in-hand over there. He guides her when she loses her way, And forgives her when she doesn't obey. But even though she's lost and weak, Wandering pathetically like a lone sheep, She owes her life to this One Man. And every night before she sleeps, She thanks Him for His help each week. Thanks Him for the saving grace That fuels her as she runs this race.