Young Woman in the Mirror

Who is this person who stares back at me? Who are you who has stolen the blissful anonymity that I enjoyed when went I about town, strapped to my mother’s back? I grasp for the warmth of my years of utter childishness but it draws farther away from me. My childhood has spun around to turn up far behind me; leaving me to suddenly awaken to a new status…Mother says I am now a young woman. It has become hard to ignore because even my appearance bears witness to the shedding of my childhood cloak.

I walk down the road and the heads of the men folk spin in my direction. I am the beautiful flower that draws the young men to my father’s gates. Beautiful, young and fresh; the blank page they all seek to place their marks on. Their attempts flatter me, I cannot lie. It gives me an extra sway in my step;-). I embrace you with my heart, young woman in the mirror. You have made me the envy of my friends.

As I walk through life, passing by a sea of adoring men with spinning heads, I hold mine high with my eyes toward the sky and gaze upon my Lord and father. To what end is my blooming into this cadre of the women folk? Surely, there must be more to me than supple flesh and long hair, right father?…Right? Vanity is fast eroding my right mind, Lord. Sweet words cause my belly to flutter. Yet, at your command, I guard my pearls.

If the distractions that my beauty and grace afford are not to be withdrawn from me, teach me Lord to tame them and bring myself to subjection, that I may not sin against thee. Teach me to place value on things that are expensive while yet illuminating every action with the candlelight of due caution. Until the day that I shall be united with the husband of my youth, and my cares shall be for him, help me to serve you with all my heart and might.

So! Young woman in the mirror, while you swing your bouncy hair in the wind and work those heels like a pro’, do remember that beauty is fleeting. Also bear in mind that the consequences of your choices and actions right now will endure longer than your beauty so enjoy your youth with grace and purity.

After all’s said, I still gotta ask though; Mirror Mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all? *You better say I*

***For all the teenage girls and young women of my time***

Feel free to share with young women you know.