You.

You.

I have always needed you.

I needed you when I was a small girl,

You chased away the darkness,

The nightterrors that stalked my dreams ran when you shed your light.

I needed you when they came up to me,

A little girl, reading my books all alone, 

To spout cruel words,

The way children do,

But that didn't matter to me,

You were there.

You were there when I took a deep breath, 

And stepped up to speak to my peers.

You were there when failure jumped me in broad daylight, 

And tore my soul into sorrowful shreds.

I needed you as I grew,

I needed you when I stopped,

I need you now that I am finishing,

This grand finale of my youthful life.

Now that I am turning to this new chapter,

I still need you.

And you are always there when I need you.

Thank you.

In Jesus' name we pray,

Amen.