WORD PICTURES
Yesterday he told her how stupid she was; not right out with those words. No, the damage he caused her was far worse. He conveyed the message through hateful glares, disgusted looks and intimidating hollers. She could never do right in his eyes. For the thousands of times he belittled her with his actions and words, he’d every now and then scoop her tiny frame in his big arms telling her he loved her. He didn’t see that his millions of insults to her young soul were drowning out his occasional ‘I love yous’.

She started out her life with her daddy as many young girls do; adoring him even to the point of thinking he was a god. Her big, round honey colored eyes were in constant search of him as she waited each day for him to come home after work. She always tried to do something , anything to get his attention. When she couldn’t, she’d do naughty things because he trained her that in order for him to notice her, she had to be bad because her good behavior went  un-noticed by him.

Then one day he had a dream. A shocking yet telling dream. He awoke with a start and was frightened much like a person when they’ve seen a ghost. He said he had seen her face disfigured. Someone had cut up her beautiful face and he couldn’t recognize his little girl. Her lips were so messed up, she couldn’t even smile. He went to a wise sage and inquired of the dream’s meaning. She told him that he was the one disfiguring his daughter’s soul through his mishandling of her . The blind man returned home completely confounded and he never changed his ways with her.

Years passed the adorable little girl turned into a stunning beauty. Everyplace she goes, people seek her light. The young men trip over their own two feet just to make her acquaintance. She is amazing both inside and out. Yet there is a secret she carries in her soul that not too many know of. She is deathly afraid. To look at her you’d never believe it. But upon closer observation you could recognize it if you’ve walked the paths she’s tread on. In her budding soul are the dark markings her father’s emotional abuse and neglect left her with. She is scarred and the blemishes cover up her self-worth. She doesn’t recognize herself. She is much afraid of men because the one put in her life to protect her did anything but. So she hides in the shadows of her tormented past wondering how she’ll ever recover her dignity

Fathers: Be careful how you handle your daughters! They are gifts to you from up above. Love them and be a safe landing-place for their hearts. Protect them from the predator wolves that are out their waiting to snatch them, entangling them with their vicious lies.

-EVA  SANTIAGO copyright 2012