for mamma

I see the strength in your eyes

blue like the sea

after a storm

when the rugged winds

threatened to destroy us;

calm like the rain

that brings hope to this dry,

broken land.

though you always tell me

you feel weak

what you don't know

is that you taught me

everything i know of

true strength and bravery.

i won't deny, 

i've seen your hands shake,

i was there

on the days your eyes

refused to stay dry

and your voice was a silent,

aching plea for the 

burden to be lifted off

your shoulders,

when you couldn't speak the 

words of exhaustion

for all the sorrows

your heart carried.

and those days,

they did change me.

maybe some innocence 

was lost for the grief

but it taught me that showing pain

is not the same as being weak.

and that is something,

that has sculpted me.

you think i don't know

how much this pain hurts you,

but i've seen you hurt for others enough

to know you feel this, too;

for you carry me with you.

your aching burden is not weakness,

though many see it that way,

they merely do not have the strength 

to love as deeply as you do.

when i was young, you'd hold me

when the night terrors 

came to frighten me,

you'd tell me stories of 

a savior 

who calmed the seas,

you spoke to me of his wings

and how his feathers covered me;

those were the first marks 

his love left on my heart.

i wish you knew that

those are the verses 

that i still carry, always.

in a world full of pain and sorrow

where it's impossible to venture out

beyond the safety of youth

without 

being wounded by this worlds

brokenness,

i'm so thankful you gave me

the truth to guide me.

though you couldn't protect me,

from everything,

you taught me of the love of 

our messiah,

who is the greatest healer.

and that, is the most valuable

thing.

i mean it when i say, 

you're the strongest woman 

i've ever known.