The Smile That Knew
There are just times, periods of my life that help me to understand where I am now. This moment. I love this picture because it reminds me of something I almost forgot. Before the hard date. Before the rupture. Before April 5th became a marker in my life. I was loved. That may sound simple, but it is not a small thing. It is the ground beneath everything. When I look at this young girl smiling back at me, I do not just see a school picture or a memory caught in sepia tones. I see a child who knew who she was. I see a girl who knew she belonged to somebody, belonged to a people, belonged to a love larger than fear. I see strength already forming in her face. I see courage sitting quietly in her smile. I see wisdom waiting its turn. That smile knew. It knew I had been given something real before the world tried to take its best shot. It knew that even when life would bring battles, disappointments, ugliness, and moments designed to crush the spirit, there was already something inside me ...
