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Thanks For
Telling Me The Truth, Dad
Michael
Josephson
Jenny was 14 and
miserable. Her freckles and braces were bad enough,
but now her face was breaking out. Her dad saw her looking in the
mirror and sobbing. She was in such pain.
Trying to cheer her up, he said, "How's my beautiful girl?"
"I'm not beautiful," she snapped, "and spare me the 'beautiful on the
inside' stuff. It doesn't
make me feel any better."
Her dad stayed up much of the night writing a note that he slipped
under her door.
"I wish I could tell you everything is all right," he wrote, "but I
know it isn't because you're genuinely unhappy. I wish I could
tell you
looks don't matter, but at your age they do. The truth is,
sometimes
life stinks.
"In a way, adolescence is like being in a cocoon. Everything is
in the
process of changing,
including your face, body, and mind. But don't confuse the
cocoon,
which is a temporary shell, with the real you. Trust nature.
Inside,
good stuff is happening.
"No, everything is not great, but there are lots of great things in
your life. You are
smart, funny, and talented, and you have friends and family who would
walk through fire for you.
"Your braces will come off, your skin will clear up, and your body will
fill out.
Sooner than you think, you will shed your cocoon and become a
magnificent butterfly soaring in the sunshine. Then I'll be the
one
with problems. So, sweetheart, have courage. You'll get
through this.
In the meantime, make the best of it. Have fun, learn, and laugh.
Tomorrow will be a better day."
In the morning, Jenny didn't look happy. She had the note in her
hand
and she
said to her dad, "You're right. Life stinks. But thanks for
telling me
the truth. I can handle it."
Defining
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Copyright
© 2006, Jace Carlton. All International Rights Reserved.
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