Comes the Dawn

Women have to learn not to depend on a man, or anyone else, for their happiness and fulfillment. I learned that in everyone's life there are good-byes of one kind or another. We are always saying good-bye. Spouses let us down; spouses disappoint us; spouses don't keep promises. Spouses and other loved ones die. Friends move away; friendships cool, and children grow up and leave home.They begin their own lives and aren't so much a part of ours anymore. Some stay close to us, some don't. Parents do the best they can, but most of us have some scars and issues from childhood. Eventually, they leave us too. So, we have to build our own world, plan our own lives, and learn not to depend on anyone else except God. Most of all, we realize that we can survive if we are strong. Then, anything that comes along to make us happy is just icing on the cake.

"After a While"
"After a while you learn the subtle differencebetween holding a hand and chaining a soul.And you learn that love doesn't mean leaningand company isn't security.(Kisses aren't contracts and presents aren't promises.) After awhile you begin to accept your defeatswith your head up and your eyes open,with the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child.And you learn to build your roads on todaybecause tomorrow's ground is too uncertain and the inevitable has a way of crumbling in mid-flight.After a while you learn that even sunshine burnsif you stand too long in one place.So, you plant your own garden and decorate your own soulinstead of waiting for someone else to bring you flowers.And you learn you really can endure,that you really do have worth.You learn that with every good-bye comes the dawn."