Dear Woman

Dear Woman,

I see you
Walking tall with a slower gait
Standing strong on a broken frame
Holding your head high and feeling down
Body aching from the tension of being stretched too thin
Tracks of tears on your cheeks
Eyes red and burning like fire
Dry from crying and wet with sorrow and feelings of inadequacy

I hear you
Praying without ceasing
Praising God with a thousand tongues
Singing songs and humming hymns by and by
Asking God to restore your strength
Sobbing when you look in the mirror because she has changed
Begging God to cover your family
Crying in the midnight hour, for joy comes in the morning

I am you
Running on empty and filling others up
Trying to figure out how to rest without stopping
Creating impossible possibilities every day
Covering your face with a beautiful smile and frowning inside
Hands calloused from working and wrinkled from worrying
Cradling your responsibilities like a newborn baby
Refusing to let go because you can't and you don't know how

You are not alone
Your scarifies are immeasurable
You are the first one to put yourself last
You don't stop even when it feels like you can't go on
You are amazing, fierce, resilient, and afraid
Many walk in your shoes, directly and indirectly, now or later

We are the same
Molded by the same hands and loved in the same way
Connected like organs and limbs
Queens fashioned by the King of all Kings

Come and sit next to me
Let me straighten your crown
Let me walk with you
Let me hold your hand
Let me carry you

Dear Woman
I am you and I love you

Sincerely,
Your Sister