The Strength of Our Age!

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A Poem by Anthony Giesick

People say I haven't been through a lot,

why?

Is it because I am so young that it is impossible for me to ever go through:

Hurt, pain, depression, loneliness, rejection, abuse, and even suicidal thoughts?

Maybe it's because I have a mother and father.

A family that loves me dearly and strengthens me when I'm weak.

Maybe it's due to where I am now:

a nice job, great friends, and a smile on my face.

A blessed life.

But wait, you can't tell that it's always been easy.

You can't calculate the hours in my room,

counting countless tears and wishing things were different.

You can't comprehend the infinite thoughts running through my mind within minutes.

Try to fathom a child watching his father drink his life away,

With each swallow the fabric of the family crumbles.

Every bottle finished brings the near end to all that he knows.

Or take the time to see when a young teen becomes father to his brother and sister,

because Dad just left,

choosing a life of abuse and coping mechanisms instead of his family.

Now, the family infrastructure breaks down,

no longer the foundation he needs.

Self-esteem no longer visible,

head hangs love from lack of affection.

loveless is a venom propelling through veins,

causing a wicked sickness to attack the heart.

Even at his "young" age he feels the effects.

What about the ones who look into the mirror,

they hate what see and they hate the fact that they hate what they see.

Our skin is not the right shade.

Our body is not what we want to see.

Our clothes don't fit the way we first imagined.

No matter what we do we don't fit our own standard.

We are imperfect, broken and desperate for attention.

Not to mention those who just feel ignored.

On the surface it looks like I have everything in prospective,

but no one even knows I exist.

My parents hassle me, and all I want to see is them happy.

So, I break my back, and my rules, just for approval,

and I never get it.

Because of that I stopped trying.

So, before you say I'm "too young" remember when you were my age,

where you "too young"?

you faced everything I am,

yet you are un-sympathetic to my condition.

You refuse to see that I am hurting,

masking it by saying, "This is too much, too soon. You're too young."

But really, am I?

Your utterances indicate that I am blind,

but I must ask,

Am I blind to it all or are you?

You see, I take all that I have been handed,

and with a smile I stand strong.

I will continue to be strengthened as I graciously stand my ground.

When I am weak, God is strong.

I will continue with my head held high,

and I will no longer ignore those are younger than I.

I know we can withstand all that is placed on our path, regardless of our age.

So, please stop seeing my age as a limit,

like it's an excuse to live as if there is no answer to the difficult questions.

Because there is an answer!

There is a voice for this lost generation.

Through all we see, and do, we have hope.

God, the one true answer,

has given us strength to answer His call,

even at our inexperience.

So, please stop seeing my age as a handicap,

but instead see it as your opportunity to love and guide me in righteousness.

And let me do the same for you.

"Let no man despise thy youth: but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."  1 Timothty 4:12