This is For My Daughter

Let me tell you how powerful you are,
bred from a lineage of lionesses
standing strong and proud with their young at their sides
carving a home out of solid stone with their fingernails,
blood, sweat, and tears.
Working their hands to the bone,
long hours,
ashamed of welfare checks,
content we can make it on our own.
Bringing home the bacon
then cooking it, too
just so the kids won't go to bed hungry.

Let me tell you how powerful you are -
not only being my child
but a child from a family of women
who have lived thru times when it was a crime to be female
and a sin to be black.
Women who have survived riots and rapes,
depression, cancer, and hated addictions.
Women who have felt they needed a man just to make it in this world
but when those men left
they stood up stronger and prouder to be born a "girl".

Let me tell you how powerful you are -
not only inheriting the "Norman Hunter pinky toe"
and legs as thick and strong as tree trunks,
but also a keen eye for detail
and an extrodinarily compassionate heart for the "underdog".
Not to mention the ability to adapt
no matter the situation
and the gift of patience
without frustration.
Tiny wrists, and naturally curly hair,
being able to stare down your fears,
a passion for words and the gift of speech,
the desire to teach
and always practicing what you preach
('cause our momma's taught us that.)

And I guarantee you will make some mistakes,
but it's the mistakes that you are able to correct and redeem yourself from
that will make you who you become.
Those mistakes and corrections,
like dry erase pens,
plus the blood line I will mention again,
stronger and prouder with every generation,
content on raising our children "right",
regardless of comparisons.
And even in old age as you watch your grandchildren
you still won't realize the full extention
of just how powerful you are.