When you get knocked down...

My name is Marie Harriet-Louise and I have scrapes. I have bumps.  I have bruises.  And most of these are NOT due to my husband.  I am talking about internal pain.  Emotional pain.  Metaphorical pain.

Guess what?  You need to pick yourself up when you get knocked down.  You have to wipe the dirt and sweat off from your brow, swallow a little blood, and stand back up.  You have to put on a brave face, look in the mirror, and tell yourself - "I am strong and I will overcome."  And you may not like what you see.  You may see an aging, wrinkled face, with crows feet, yellowing teeth, and split ends.  But you have to lie to yourself and say, "I am strong and I will overcome."  You can feel like the whole world is against you and everyone is laughing behind your back - laughing at your weight, and your faith, and your child's deformities.  But you have to put on a smile and tell yourself - "I am strong and I will overcome."

This is what a mother/poet does when they get knocked down.  It isn't easy, but it is what we do.

Amen.