I found myself

I found myself looking into the beautiful big eyes of a woman who went through hell's burning gates and back, she saw death and its stench, she felt struggle touch her skin, she knew loneliness, she was accustomed to hurt and was used to tears in her lifetime but ...her smile stayed strong even when everything around her seemed to be weak. It was solid. It was real and wasn't fake. I found myself staring at her beautiful full lips and wondered how many prayers she had made at the midnight hour speaking to God to help her. I found myself looking at her ears and prayed that whatever hurtful things that were ever said to her never penetrated and reached her heart. I found myself staring deeply  at this woman who was telling me about a life that could have killed me if I was in half the situation she was in...but there she was smiling and laughing and happy that she was here on earth. She was genuine. I found myself admiring her brave heart, her honest laughter, her tenacity, her strength, her will to live! I found myself silently praying that joy and mercy chases her and stalks her until the day she dies. I found myself praying for her children while she spoke, I found myself proud that she trusted me with her life and personal story. I found myself wishing she never again goes through anything like this, I found myself confessing that the enemy will no longer have a say in anything to do with her, I found myself speaking life and success into every area of her life! I found myself m ...yes, that's it, I found myself ! Through the beautiful big eyes of this woman I found parts of myself embedded in her story. Her beauty. Her drive. Her hustling -never -give-up- for- nothing mentality. I found a part of myself I aim to be when I'm her age. I found a version of myself I yearn to be through her trials and tribulations. I found parts of my faith where I pray to God I reach. In those minutes, with this woman, at that time...I found myself.