TODAY, LORD, I DON’T FEEL SO GOOD.
PRETTY SEEMS SO FAR AWAY…
I DON’T SEE ANYTHING I LIKE,
NOT ONE THING, AT LEAST NOT FOR TODAY.

“MY CHILD, BUT YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND,
YOU DON’T SEE WHAT I SEE IN YOU…
NOT ONLY DO I SEE GOOD ON WHAT’S INSIDE,
I THINK YOU’RE PRETTY ON THE OUTSIDE, TOO.”

BUT YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND, GOD,
I DON’T LIKE MY HAIR. NOR DO I LIKE MY FACE.
MY BODY’S HORRENDOUS TO LOOK AT TO ME,
MY LOOKS ARE NOTHING I’LL EVER EMBRACE.

“BUT SWEET DAUGHTER, HAVEN’T YOU LEARNED YET?
THOSE THINGS SIMPLY AREN’T TRUE.
AND STILL, LIKE I’VE TOLD YOU BEFORE,
I SEE SO MUCH BEAUTY IN YOU.”

I NEED TO LOSE A BAJILLION POUNDS,
I NEED MORE MAKEUP, AND LIPO, A NEW ‘DO.
I SIMPLY DON’T SEE ANYTHING GOOD AT ALL
WHEN I LOOK AT MYSELF, HOW DO YOU?

“YOU’RE MY CHILD, I SEE NOTHING BUT GOOD,
AND THE TRUTH IS SEEN THROUGH MY EYES.
JUST REMEMBER YOUR IDENTITY IS IN ME,
AND STOP BELIEVING ALL THOSE LIES!”

MY HUSBAND CONSTANTLY TELLS ME I’M PRETTY,
THAT NOBODY IS FAIRER THAN I….
FOR YEARS HE’S SAID THIS, BUT I STILL DON’T BELIEVE
HIM, PART OF ME THINKS IT’S A LIE.

I LOOK AROUND ME AND SEE SO MANY
WHO HAVE BODIES THAT I’D GIVE ANYTHING FOR.
I NEVER THINK I’LL BE MUCH TO LOOK AT,
THAT’S SOMETHING I KNOW TO BE SURE.

“MAKE A DECISION, MY SWEET LITTLE GIRL…
WILL YOU TRY TO REMEMBER WHAT I SAY?
I LOOK AT YOU AND SEE IMMENSE BEAUTY,
PLEASE TRY TO BELIEVE ME TODAY.”

J.N.S. March 4, 2009