You Are

You are....

Strong when you take your grief and teach it to smile,

brave when you overcome your fear and help others do the same,

happy when you see a flower and give it your blessing,

loving when your pain does not blind you to the pain of others,

wise when you know the limits of your wisdom,

true when you admit there are times you fool yourself,

alive when tomorrow's hope means more than yesterday's mistake,

growing when you know who you are but not what you will become,

free when you control yourself and don't try to control others,

honorable when you find your honor is to honor others,

generous when you can take as sweetly as you give,

humble when you do not know how humble you are,

thoughtful when you see me as I am and treat me just as you are,

merciful when you forgive others faults you condemn in yourself,

beautiful when you don't need a mirror to tell you,

rich when you never need more than you have.

You are what you are and that is enough for anyone to be loved.

[ Lady Lynda -- from Aiken Drum ]