For all the little girls growing up in today’s world. And especially for my daughter who is beautiful just as she is, and who should never conform to anyone’s standard of beauty
Let’s count the many ways that you are perfect
Your hair, halfway between brown and black
Your eyebrows, thick and full
Your eyes, wide and full and filled with light
Your nose, a little too wide, just like your mother’s
Your lips, pink and tiny and a shape never before seen
Your cheeks, full and chubby, ideal contours
Your hue, the shade of a half ripe mango
Your arms and fists, uniquely freckled
Your legs, long and lean and endless
Your feet, huge like your dad’s, yet graceful
Now let’s count the real ways that you are perfect
Your genuine smile, soul-lifting and freely shared
The delight that you find in simple pleasures
Your knack for asking soul searching questions
Your helping hand, always willingly offered
Your sense of family, of togetherness
Your empathy for the underprivileged
Your hard work ethic and tenacity of purpose
Your discerning and probing spirit
Your artistic beautiful soul
And the generosity of your spirit
Daughter of my womb
Apple of my eyes
You have a beautiful container of a body
It might never conform to everyone’s standard
But it is beautiful because it is yours
And better still, your content is perfect
It will never conform to everyone’s expectation
But it is perfect because it is you
You, forged by a perfect God
