THE GENTLE GIANT
(ME, OBVIOUSLY)
ANGRILY,
THE GENTLE GIANT
SLAMMED THE TORN
SCREEN DOOR
BEHIND HER,
STIRRING UP ALL THE DIRT AND DUST,
MAKING HER SQUINT HER EYES
MUCH MORE THAN USUAL
'CUZ
OF
THE NEVER ENDING HOT ARIZONA SUN.
ALL OF THAT MUCK
AND ICKY STUFF
ALWAYS SEEMED TO FLY
STRAIGHT INTO HER LIGHT GREEN EYES.
SHE WONDERED
IF THAT'S WHY
EVERYONE IN HER
ENTIRE GINORMOUS FAMILY
(AT LEAST IT FELT THAT WAY TO HER),
CALLED HER A GIANT.
HER LIGHT GREEN EYES
SHE MEANT.
HMMM....
SHE THOUGHT TO HERSELF
TALK ABOUT BEING A GIANT...
ISN'T THAT WHAT THE WORD
HYPOCRITE MEANT?
THEY
MAY
HAVE CALLED HER DUMB,
NOT TO MENTION UGLY.
BUT SHE KNEW SHE WASN'T DUMB
'CUZ
SHE MADE STRAIGHT As IN SCHOOL.
AS FOR UGLY, THOUGH,
IF THEY ONLY KNEW.
SHE KNEW JESUS CALLED HER
THE APPLE OF HIS EYE
AND BEAUTIFUL.
OR MAYBE EVERYONE
CALLED HER A GIANT
'CUZ
SHE HAD HER VERY VERY LONG LEGS.
OR MAYBE
IT WAS
'CUZ
OF THE UNFORTUNATE FACT
THAT SHE HAD SHOT UP
TO BE THIS TALL,
MUCH MUCH TALLER
THAN NEARLY ALMOST
EVERYONE
IN HER GINORMOUS FAMILY,
EVEN HER DUMB BIG SISTER.
AND THE GENTLE GIANT WASN'T
EVEN
A TEENAGER YET.
WHAT WAS WORSE,
THOUGH,
TO HER,
WAS THAT SHE WAS
SO MUCH TALLER
THAN MOST OF THE CUTE BOYS
WHERE SHE WENT TO SCHOOL.
SHE SO VERY MUCH DISLIKED
BEING SO TALL
BECAUSE NOTHING EVER FIT.
AND SHE COULD NEVER FIND PRETTY SHOES
BECAUSE HER FEET WERE SO HUGE.
AND SHE WAS SO MUCH
TALLER
THAN ALMOST
ALL
OF THE OTHER GIRLS
HER AGE
AT HER SCHOOL.
THAT'S WHY
SHE WOULD ALWAYS HUNCH
HER SHOULDERS OVER
AND HANG HER HEAD
WHEN SHE WALKED AROUND,
USUALLY BY HERSELF,
OF COURSE.
ANYTHING SHE COULD DO
TO FEEL NORMAL,
TO FEEL CUTE
LIKE THE REST OF THEM.
AND WHY WAS HER TEACHER
ALWAYS
MAKING HER STAND RIGHT IN FRONT
OF EVERYONE
TO SHUT OR OPEN
THE WINDOWS UP BY THE CEILING
JUST
'CUZ
THE GENTLE GIANT WAS SO TALL
AND HER TEACHER WAS SO SMALL?
WHAT HELPED THOUGH,
WAS TO THINK OF HER TEACHER
AS A TWITTERING
HUMMINGBIRD.
THAT MADE HER GIGGLE.
THE GENTLE GIANT
SLAMMED THE TORN
SCREEN DOOR
BEHIND HER,
STIRRING UP ALL THE DIRT AND DUST,
MAKING HER SQUINT HER EYES
MUCH MORE THAN USUAL
'CUZ
OF
THE NEVER ENDING HOT ARIZONA SUN.
ALL OF THAT MUCK
AND ICKY STUFF
ALWAYS SEEMED TO FLY
STRAIGHT INTO HER LIGHT GREEN EYES.
SHE WONDERED
IF THAT'S WHY
EVERYONE IN HER
ENTIRE GINORMOUS FAMILY
(AT LEAST IT FELT THAT WAY TO HER),
CALLED HER A GIANT.
HER LIGHT GREEN EYES
SHE MEANT.
HMMM....
SHE THOUGHT TO HERSELF
TALK ABOUT BEING A GIANT...
ISN'T THAT WHAT THE WORD
HYPOCRITE MEANT?
THEY
MAY
HAVE CALLED HER DUMB,
NOT TO MENTION UGLY.
BUT SHE KNEW SHE WASN'T DUMB
'CUZ
SHE MADE STRAIGHT As IN SCHOOL.
AS FOR UGLY, THOUGH,
IF THEY ONLY KNEW.
SHE KNEW JESUS CALLED HER
THE APPLE OF HIS EYE
AND BEAUTIFUL.
OR MAYBE EVERYONE
CALLED HER A GIANT
'CUZ
SHE HAD HER VERY VERY LONG LEGS.
OR MAYBE
IT WAS
'CUZ
OF THE UNFORTUNATE FACT
THAT SHE HAD SHOT UP
TO BE THIS TALL,
MUCH MUCH TALLER
THAN NEARLY ALMOST
EVERYONE
IN HER GINORMOUS FAMILY,
EVEN HER DUMB BIG SISTER.
AND THE GENTLE GIANT WASN'T
EVEN
A TEENAGER YET.
WHAT WAS WORSE,
THOUGH,
TO HER,
WAS THAT SHE WAS
SO MUCH TALLER
THAN MOST OF THE CUTE BOYS
WHERE SHE WENT TO SCHOOL.
SHE SO VERY MUCH DISLIKED
BEING SO TALL
BECAUSE NOTHING EVER FIT.
AND SHE COULD NEVER FIND PRETTY SHOES
BECAUSE HER FEET WERE SO HUGE.
AND SHE WAS SO MUCH
TALLER
THAN ALMOST
ALL
OF THE OTHER GIRLS
HER AGE
AT HER SCHOOL.
THAT'S WHY
SHE WOULD ALWAYS HUNCH
HER SHOULDERS OVER
AND HANG HER HEAD
WHEN SHE WALKED AROUND,
USUALLY BY HERSELF,
OF COURSE.
ANYTHING SHE COULD DO
TO FEEL NORMAL,
TO FEEL CUTE
LIKE THE REST OF THEM.
AND WHY WAS HER TEACHER
ALWAYS
MAKING HER STAND RIGHT IN FRONT
OF EVERYONE
TO SHUT OR OPEN
THE WINDOWS UP BY THE CEILING
JUST
'CUZ
THE GENTLE GIANT WAS SO TALL
AND HER TEACHER WAS SO SMALL?
WHAT HELPED THOUGH,
WAS TO THINK OF HER TEACHER
AS A TWITTERING
HUMMINGBIRD.
THAT MADE HER GIGGLE.
AND THEN THERE WERE THE NAMES.
DADDY LONG LEGS WAS THE WORST.
THEY CALLED HER THAT DUMB NAME
JUST
'CUZ
HER LEGS WERE SO LONG
AND HER FEET WERE SO HUMONGOUS
AND DADDY LONG LONG SPIDERS LIVED
EVERYWHERE IN THE ARIZONA DESERT.
HER LEGS WERE SO LONG
THAT IT WAS JUST EASIER TO WEAR SHORTS
ALL THE TIME
RATHER THAN TO TRY
TO BUY
PANTS.
THE PANTS WERE ALWAYS TO SHORT
ANYWAYS.
SHE GUESSED IT WAS A GOOD THING
THAT SHE LIVED WHERE IT WAS HOT
MOST OF THE TIME,
EVEN DURING CHRISTMAS.
IT WAS SO HOT
THAT EVEN THE FROGS
WOULD GO SWIMMING WITH HER
IN THE DITCHES.
DADDY LONG LEGS WAS THE WORST.
THEY CALLED HER THAT DUMB NAME
JUST
'CUZ
HER LEGS WERE SO LONG
AND HER FEET WERE SO HUMONGOUS
AND DADDY LONG LONG SPIDERS LIVED
EVERYWHERE IN THE ARIZONA DESERT.
HER LEGS WERE SO LONG
THAT IT WAS JUST EASIER TO WEAR SHORTS
ALL THE TIME
RATHER THAN TO TRY
TO BUY
PANTS.
THE PANTS WERE ALWAYS TO SHORT
ANYWAYS.
SHE GUESSED IT WAS A GOOD THING
THAT SHE LIVED WHERE IT WAS HOT
MOST OF THE TIME,
EVEN DURING CHRISTMAS.
IT WAS SO HOT
THAT EVEN THE FROGS
WOULD GO SWIMMING WITH HER
IN THE DITCHES.
WHY DID SHE HAVE TO BE SO TALL,
SHE OFTEN WONDERED.
SHE OFTEN WONDERED.
ALL OF HER COUSINS WERE PRETTY AND SMALL AND GIRLY
AND WORE CUTE STORE-BOUGHT CLOTHES
AND HAD PRETTY STRAIGHT HAIR
INSTEAD OF SO CURLY.
AND THAT WOULD MAKE HER CRY.
WHY DO YOU THINK
THE GENTLE GIANT
HAD SO MANY SECRET
HIDING PLACES?
IF ANYONE AT ALL SAW HER CRY,
THEY WOULD SING THAT SILLY SONG TO HER,
'SHERRIE BABY'.
SHE WAS SO TALL AND THIN.
AND HER WAS WAS SO SHORT,
THAT MOST OF THE TIME,
EVERYONE THOUGHT SHE WAS A BOY.
AT LEAST THEY CALLED THAT BOY CUTE.
DADDY HAD GOT MAD AT HER
AGAIN
AND CUT OFF HER LONG
PONYTAIL.
DIDN'T HE KNOW SHE WAS ONLY
CRYING
'CUZ
OF SOMETHING
MEAN
HER DUMB SISTER HAD DONE
AGAIN?
WOULD SHE NEVER BE LEFT ALONE?
WASN'T THERE A PLACE ANYWHERE
IN THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE
GOD HAD MADE
SHE COULD JUST DISAPPEAR?
JUST AS LONG AS SHE COULD STILL BE
WITH HER SWEET JESUS.
THE GENTLE GIANT
FELT SO GIRLY ON THE INSIDE.
LIFE JUST WASN'T FAIR.
WHY WAS SHE BORN THIS WAY?
SHE WISHED THERE WAS A MAGIC WAND
SHE COULD WAVE OVER HER HAIR.
IT WAS RED AND SHORT AND CURLY,
STREAKED WITH BLOND
FROM THE HOT ARIZONA SUN.
SHE WISHED SO MUCH HER HAIR WAS LONG AND STRAIGHT
AND BLOND
LIKE ALL OF THE PRETTY GIRLS
IN HER GRADE.
AND AS LONG AS SHE HAD
THAT MAGIC WAND,
SHE WOULD MAKE HERSELF
SHORT AND PRETTY.
DO YOU KNOW
THAT ALMOST EVERY NIGHT
THE GENTLE GIANT WOULD PRAY
AND THEN PULL HARD
ON HER HAIR,
PRAYING THAT WOULD HELP.
BUT IT JUST MADE HER YELP.
AND WORE CUTE STORE-BOUGHT CLOTHES
AND HAD PRETTY STRAIGHT HAIR
INSTEAD OF SO CURLY.
AND THAT WOULD MAKE HER CRY.
WHY DO YOU THINK
THE GENTLE GIANT
HAD SO MANY SECRET
HIDING PLACES?
IF ANYONE AT ALL SAW HER CRY,
THEY WOULD SING THAT SILLY SONG TO HER,
'SHERRIE BABY'.
SHE WAS SO TALL AND THIN.
AND HER WAS WAS SO SHORT,
THAT MOST OF THE TIME,
EVERYONE THOUGHT SHE WAS A BOY.
AT LEAST THEY CALLED THAT BOY CUTE.
DADDY HAD GOT MAD AT HER
AGAIN
AND CUT OFF HER LONG
PONYTAIL.
DIDN'T HE KNOW SHE WAS ONLY
CRYING
'CUZ
OF SOMETHING
MEAN
HER DUMB SISTER HAD DONE
AGAIN?
WOULD SHE NEVER BE LEFT ALONE?
WASN'T THERE A PLACE ANYWHERE
IN THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE
GOD HAD MADE
SHE COULD JUST DISAPPEAR?
JUST AS LONG AS SHE COULD STILL BE
WITH HER SWEET JESUS.
THE GENTLE GIANT
FELT SO GIRLY ON THE INSIDE.
LIFE JUST WASN'T FAIR.
WHY WAS SHE BORN THIS WAY?
SHE WISHED THERE WAS A MAGIC WAND
SHE COULD WAVE OVER HER HAIR.
IT WAS RED AND SHORT AND CURLY,
STREAKED WITH BLOND
FROM THE HOT ARIZONA SUN.
SHE WISHED SO MUCH HER HAIR WAS LONG AND STRAIGHT
AND BLOND
LIKE ALL OF THE PRETTY GIRLS
IN HER GRADE.
AND AS LONG AS SHE HAD
THAT MAGIC WAND,
SHE WOULD MAKE HERSELF
SHORT AND PRETTY.
DO YOU KNOW
THAT ALMOST EVERY NIGHT
THE GENTLE GIANT WOULD PRAY
AND THEN PULL HARD
ON HER HAIR,
PRAYING THAT WOULD HELP.
BUT IT JUST MADE HER YELP.
BEING SUCH A GIANT WASN'T HER ONLY PROBLEM, THOUGH,
UNFORTUNATELY.
HER PARENTS WERE ALWAYS FIGHTING.
IT WAS QUIET NOW,
BUT THAT WAS
'CUZ
HER DADDY WASN'T THERE.
HER DADDY HAD LEFT HER
AGAIN.
AND SHE KNEW HOW TO HAVE FUN
ALL BY HERSELF
ON GRANDDADDY'S
COTTON FARM.
SHE HAD TO LEARN TO HAVE FUN
ALL BY HERSELF
'CUZ
THOSE TWO OTHERS
HAD NEVER LET THEM PLAY WITH HER.
EVEN WHEN SHE WAS MUCH YOUNGER.
THEY SAID IT WAS
'CUZ
SHE CRIED ALL THE TIME.
THEY CALLED HER 'CRY BABY'
ENDLESSLY.
SHE ONLY CRIED
BECAUSE THEY LIKED TO PICK ON HER,
AND SCARE HER.
AND SHE,
LIKE EVER SINGLE OTHER TIME,
WOULD BE TOLD BY MOM AND GRANDMA
THAT IT WAS ALL HER FAULT.
WOULD NOTHING EVER CHANGE?
DADDY WASN'T THERE
TO STICK UP FOR HER.
BUT THAT WAS KINDA OKAY
'CUZ
SHE GOT REALLY REALLY
FRIGHTENED
'CUZ
HER MOM AND DADDY
WERE ALWAYS SCREAMING
AND HITTING
AND FIGHTING.
THAT'S WHY SHE FOUND SECRET PLACES
TO RUN TO AND HIDE,
TO BE ALONE WITH HER SWEET JESUS.
THE GENTLE GIANT
LOVED IT SO SO MUCH
WHEN SHE GOT TO GO
TO GRANDDADDY'S COTTON FARM.
SHE COULD SWIM IN THE DITCHES
ALL DAY LONG.
THAT IS,
IF SHE WANTED TO.
SHE WAS KINDA SCARED OF THE DITCHES
'CUZ
THE BOTTOM WAS ALWAYS
ICKY AND STICKY
AND THERE WERE SNAKES EVERYWHERE,
NOT TO MENTION LOTS OF SPIDERS.
BUT WHEN IT WAS HOT ENOUGH,
SHE WOULD TRY TO BE BRAVE
AND NOT CRY.
BUT SHE STILL LOVED IT THERE.
SHE LOVED TO EXPLORE,
ALL BY HERSELF,
EVERYWHERE,
MOST ESPECIALLY
THE OLD WOODEN FARMHOUSE
THAT WAS THERE BEFORE
GRANDDADDY HAD BUILT
HIS NEW FARMHOUSE,
ALL BY HIMSELF.
SHE LOVED HER GRANDDADDY
AND SHE KNEW HE LOVED HER.
GRANDDADDY' HAD MADE
THE ROOF ON HIS HOUSE
OUT OF TIN.
SO WHEN
THE FOUR OF THEM WERE DRIVING
TO HER SWEET GRANDDADDY'S
COTTON FARM,
THE GENTLE GIANT WOULD GET SO EXCITED
WHEN SHE COULD FIRST
SPOT THAT TIN ROOF
SHINING O SO BRIGHTLY
LIKE A DIAMOND,
IN THE HOT ARIZONA SUN.
IT WAS LIKE THAT SHINY TIN ROOF
WAS A BEACON SHINING IN THE SKY,
GUIDING HER,
KINDA LIKE THE NORTH STAR
GUIDED THE THREE KINGS
TO BABY JESUS.
SO THAT'S WHY,
EVEN THOUGH
HER DUMB SISTER WAS IN THE BACK
OF THE CAR,
PINCHING AND TEASING HER
ALL THEY WAY THERE,
SHE WOULD TRY NOT TO CRY.
AND
'CUZ
SHE KNEW SHE WAS GOING
TO BE ABLE TO SPEND
THE WHOLE WEEKEND
WITH HER SWEET GRANDDADDY,
OR MAYBE SHE WOULD BE BLESSED
AND BE ABLE
TO SPEND THE WHOLE SUMMER
ON THE FARM WITH GRANDDADDY,
SHE WOULD GET SO EXCITED
THE FIRST TIME SHE SPOTTED
THAT TIN ROOF.
SHE KNEW THAT WHEN SHE SAW THE ROOF
SHINING
THEY WEREN'T VERY FAR.
AND DADDY WOULD DRIVE
DOWN THE DIRT ROAD
THAT HAD LOTS AND LOTS OF BUMPS
REALLY REALLY FAST,
WHICH MAKE MOM KINDA MAD.
BUT THAT WAS OKAY
'CUZ
DADDY DRIVING
LIKE THAT WAY,
LIKE THEY WERE ON
SOME KIND
OF ROLLER COASTER
WOULD MAKE HER
GIGGLE.
THE GENTLE GIANT
PREFERRED TO STAY
AWAY
FROM HER SISTER AND HER MOM'S
YOUNGEST BROTHER,
HER UNCLE.
HE LIVED ON THE COTTON FARM
WITH GRANDMA AND HER
SWEET GRANDDADDY.
SHE LOVED HER GRANDDADDY.
AND SHE KNEW HE LOVED HER.
THE TWO OF THEM,
HER UNCLE AND SISTER,
JUST COULDN'T SEEM
TO HELP THEMSELVES,
CONSTANTLY CALLING HER NAMES,
TEASING HER,
SHOOTING HER IN HER BARE LEGS
WITH HER UNCLE'S DUMB
BB GUN,
TRYING TO MAKE HER CRY
ALL OF THE TIME.
THE TWO OF THEM
TEASED THE GENTLE GIANT
FOR THINGS SHE COULDN'T HELP.
LIKE THE SIZE OF HER FEET,
AND
THE FACT THAT GOD HAD MADE HER
TO LOOK JUST LIKE
HER DADDY,
THE INSTIGATOR,
APPARENTLY.
WOULD THERE EVER BE A TIME
UNFORTUNATELY.
HER PARENTS WERE ALWAYS FIGHTING.
IT WAS QUIET NOW,
BUT THAT WAS
'CUZ
HER DADDY WASN'T THERE.
HER DADDY HAD LEFT HER
AGAIN.
AND SHE KNEW HOW TO HAVE FUN
ALL BY HERSELF
ON GRANDDADDY'S
COTTON FARM.
SHE HAD TO LEARN TO HAVE FUN
ALL BY HERSELF
'CUZ
THOSE TWO OTHERS
HAD NEVER LET THEM PLAY WITH HER.
EVEN WHEN SHE WAS MUCH YOUNGER.
THEY SAID IT WAS
'CUZ
SHE CRIED ALL THE TIME.
THEY CALLED HER 'CRY BABY'
ENDLESSLY.
SHE ONLY CRIED
BECAUSE THEY LIKED TO PICK ON HER,
AND SCARE HER.
AND SHE,
LIKE EVER SINGLE OTHER TIME,
WOULD BE TOLD BY MOM AND GRANDMA
THAT IT WAS ALL HER FAULT.
WOULD NOTHING EVER CHANGE?
DADDY WASN'T THERE
TO STICK UP FOR HER.
BUT THAT WAS KINDA OKAY
'CUZ
SHE GOT REALLY REALLY
FRIGHTENED
'CUZ
HER MOM AND DADDY
WERE ALWAYS SCREAMING
AND HITTING
AND FIGHTING.
THAT'S WHY SHE FOUND SECRET PLACES
TO RUN TO AND HIDE,
TO BE ALONE WITH HER SWEET JESUS.
THE GENTLE GIANT
LOVED IT SO SO MUCH
WHEN SHE GOT TO GO
TO GRANDDADDY'S COTTON FARM.
SHE COULD SWIM IN THE DITCHES
ALL DAY LONG.
THAT IS,
IF SHE WANTED TO.
SHE WAS KINDA SCARED OF THE DITCHES
'CUZ
THE BOTTOM WAS ALWAYS
ICKY AND STICKY
AND THERE WERE SNAKES EVERYWHERE,
NOT TO MENTION LOTS OF SPIDERS.
BUT WHEN IT WAS HOT ENOUGH,
SHE WOULD TRY TO BE BRAVE
AND NOT CRY.
BUT SHE STILL LOVED IT THERE.
SHE LOVED TO EXPLORE,
ALL BY HERSELF,
EVERYWHERE,
MOST ESPECIALLY
THE OLD WOODEN FARMHOUSE
THAT WAS THERE BEFORE
GRANDDADDY HAD BUILT
HIS NEW FARMHOUSE,
ALL BY HIMSELF.
SHE LOVED HER GRANDDADDY
AND SHE KNEW HE LOVED HER.
GRANDDADDY' HAD MADE
THE ROOF ON HIS HOUSE
OUT OF TIN.
SO WHEN
THE FOUR OF THEM WERE DRIVING
TO HER SWEET GRANDDADDY'S
COTTON FARM,
THE GENTLE GIANT WOULD GET SO EXCITED
WHEN SHE COULD FIRST
SPOT THAT TIN ROOF
SHINING O SO BRIGHTLY
LIKE A DIAMOND,
IN THE HOT ARIZONA SUN.
IT WAS LIKE THAT SHINY TIN ROOF
WAS A BEACON SHINING IN THE SKY,
GUIDING HER,
KINDA LIKE THE NORTH STAR
GUIDED THE THREE KINGS
TO BABY JESUS.
SO THAT'S WHY,
EVEN THOUGH
HER DUMB SISTER WAS IN THE BACK
OF THE CAR,
PINCHING AND TEASING HER
ALL THEY WAY THERE,
SHE WOULD TRY NOT TO CRY.
AND
'CUZ
SHE KNEW SHE WAS GOING
TO BE ABLE TO SPEND
THE WHOLE WEEKEND
WITH HER SWEET GRANDDADDY,
OR MAYBE SHE WOULD BE BLESSED
AND BE ABLE
TO SPEND THE WHOLE SUMMER
ON THE FARM WITH GRANDDADDY,
SHE WOULD GET SO EXCITED
THE FIRST TIME SHE SPOTTED
THAT TIN ROOF.
SHE KNEW THAT WHEN SHE SAW THE ROOF
SHINING
THEY WEREN'T VERY FAR.
AND DADDY WOULD DRIVE
DOWN THE DIRT ROAD
THAT HAD LOTS AND LOTS OF BUMPS
REALLY REALLY FAST,
WHICH MAKE MOM KINDA MAD.
BUT THAT WAS OKAY
'CUZ
DADDY DRIVING
LIKE THAT WAY,
LIKE THEY WERE ON
SOME KIND
OF ROLLER COASTER
WOULD MAKE HER
GIGGLE.
THE GENTLE GIANT
PREFERRED TO STAY
AWAY
FROM HER SISTER AND HER MOM'S
YOUNGEST BROTHER,
HER UNCLE.
HE LIVED ON THE COTTON FARM
WITH GRANDMA AND HER
SWEET GRANDDADDY.
SHE LOVED HER GRANDDADDY.
AND SHE KNEW HE LOVED HER.
THE TWO OF THEM,
HER UNCLE AND SISTER,
JUST COULDN'T SEEM
TO HELP THEMSELVES,
CONSTANTLY CALLING HER NAMES,
TEASING HER,
SHOOTING HER IN HER BARE LEGS
WITH HER UNCLE'S DUMB
BB GUN,
TRYING TO MAKE HER CRY
ALL OF THE TIME.
THE TWO OF THEM
TEASED THE GENTLE GIANT
FOR THINGS SHE COULDN'T HELP.
LIKE THE SIZE OF HER FEET,
AND
THE FACT THAT GOD HAD MADE HER
TO LOOK JUST LIKE
HER DADDY,
THE INSTIGATOR,
APPARENTLY.
WOULD THERE EVER BE A TIME
WHEN SHE WOULDN'T FEEL
LIKE SHE NEEDED TO GO HIDE
ON THE ROOF
OR IN HER SECRET HIDING PLACE,
INSIDE
HER FAVORITE GROVE OF
COTTONWOOD TREES?
THAT SEEMED LIKE THE ONLY TIME
SHE HAD ANY PEACE IN HER HEART
AND WASN'T A PART
OF ALL OF THAT RIDICULOUS SCARY
NEVER-ENDING
SCREAMING
AND HITTING
AND YELLING.
SHE WOULD BRING HER BIBLE WITH HER
INSIDE HER FORT,
THE BIBLE HER MOM HAD GIVEN HER
WHEN SHE FIRST WENT
TO SUMMER CHURCH CAMP,
UP IN THE PRETTY
PEACEFUL MOUNTAINS
AND GIANT PINE TREES ALL AROUND.
SHE LOVED CLIMBING ALL THROUGH
THE FOREST, PRAYING TO
HER SWEET JESUS.
INSIDE GENTLE GIANT'S HIDING PLACE,
THE GROVE OF COTTONWOOD TREES,
SHE COULD READ
TO HER HEART'S CONTENT, AND PRAY.
SHE LOVED TO READ, BUT SHE LOVED
TO TALK TO GOD EVEN MORE.
IT SEEMED LIKE
HE,
HER SWEET JESUS,
WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO UNDERSTOOD
HOW IT FELT TO BE SO DIFFERENT
AND TEASED.
HE WAS HER ONE AND ONLY
BEST FRIEND.
LIKE SHE NEEDED TO GO HIDE
ON THE ROOF
OR IN HER SECRET HIDING PLACE,
INSIDE
HER FAVORITE GROVE OF
COTTONWOOD TREES?
THAT SEEMED LIKE THE ONLY TIME
SHE HAD ANY PEACE IN HER HEART
AND WASN'T A PART
OF ALL OF THAT RIDICULOUS SCARY
NEVER-ENDING
SCREAMING
AND HITTING
AND YELLING.
SHE WOULD BRING HER BIBLE WITH HER
INSIDE HER FORT,
THE BIBLE HER MOM HAD GIVEN HER
WHEN SHE FIRST WENT
TO SUMMER CHURCH CAMP,
UP IN THE PRETTY
PEACEFUL MOUNTAINS
AND GIANT PINE TREES ALL AROUND.
SHE LOVED CLIMBING ALL THROUGH
THE FOREST, PRAYING TO
HER SWEET JESUS.
INSIDE GENTLE GIANT'S HIDING PLACE,
THE GROVE OF COTTONWOOD TREES,
SHE COULD READ
TO HER HEART'S CONTENT, AND PRAY.
SHE LOVED TO READ, BUT SHE LOVED
TO TALK TO GOD EVEN MORE.
IT SEEMED LIKE
HE,
HER SWEET JESUS,
WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO UNDERSTOOD
HOW IT FELT TO BE SO DIFFERENT
AND TEASED.
HE WAS HER ONE AND ONLY
BEST FRIEND.
SHE JUST WANTED TO BLEND IN SO MUCH
BACK THEN
THAT HER HEART ACHED ALL THE TIME,
EVERY DAY.
THAT'S WHY
SHE HAD INVITED JESUS INTO HER HEART
THAT SUNNY SUNDAY WHEN SHE WAS
ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD.
BUT IT WAS HARD TO BLEND IN
WHEN YOU WERE VERY NEARLY
FIVE FOOT TEN
AND STILL SO YOUNG.
BACK THEN
THAT HER HEART ACHED ALL THE TIME,
EVERY DAY.
THAT'S WHY
SHE HAD INVITED JESUS INTO HER HEART
THAT SUNNY SUNDAY WHEN SHE WAS
ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD.
BUT IT WAS HARD TO BLEND IN
WHEN YOU WERE VERY NEARLY
FIVE FOOT TEN
AND STILL SO YOUNG.
MAYBE ONE DAY SHE WOULD BE OKAY
WITH BEING FIVE FOOT TEN OR SO.
I AM GLAD
THAT
THE GENTLE GIANT,
ME,
DIDN'T KNOW BACK THEN,
KNOW IT WOULD TAKE SO VERY LONG,
NEARLY
60 LONG YEARS,
TO FEEL OKAY WITH HERSELF.
I WISH I COULD GO FIND OR BUILD
A TIME MACHINE
AND GO BACK IN TIME
AND TELL THAT SWEET GIRL
THAT THE 60 YEARS WOULD FLY BY
AND SHE WOULD BE OKAY
'CUZ
JESUS LOVES HER.
ALWAYS HAS.
ALWAYS WILL.
WELL,
MERCY ME,
THAT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN FUN AT ALL
KNOWING THAT IT WOULD TAKE SO LONG.
SHE WOULD LEARN MUCH LATER,
THOUGH,
IT WAS JUST A PART OF GOD'S PLAN.
WITH BEING FIVE FOOT TEN OR SO.
I AM GLAD
THAT
THE GENTLE GIANT,
ME,
DIDN'T KNOW BACK THEN,
KNOW IT WOULD TAKE SO VERY LONG,
NEARLY
60 LONG YEARS,
TO FEEL OKAY WITH HERSELF.
I WISH I COULD GO FIND OR BUILD
A TIME MACHINE
AND GO BACK IN TIME
AND TELL THAT SWEET GIRL
THAT THE 60 YEARS WOULD FLY BY
AND SHE WOULD BE OKAY
'CUZ
JESUS LOVES HER.
ALWAYS HAS.
ALWAYS WILL.
WELL,
MERCY ME,
THAT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN FUN AT ALL
KNOWING THAT IT WOULD TAKE SO LONG.
SHE WOULD LEARN MUCH LATER,
THOUGH,
IT WAS JUST A PART OF GOD'S PLAN.
THE GENTLE GIANT
WAS THANKFUL,
THOUGH,
'CUZ
HER SWEET JESUS KNEW
HOW HARD LIFE WAS FOR HER,
HE KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT HER.
AND GOD HAD A PLAN FOR HER LIFE
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING,
EVEN BEFORE HE SAID,
"LET THERE BE LIGHT."
GOD KNEW ALL ABOUT HER
AND HAD A PLAN
EVEN WHEN
SHE WAS INSIDE
HER MOM'S TUMMY,
WHICH SOUNDED KINDA
MADE UP AND FUNNY.
BUT THE GENTLE GIANT
KNEW IT WAS TRUE,
JUST LIKE SHE KNEW
HER SWEET JESUS LOVED HER
UNCONDITIONALLY
AND THAT HE WOULD NEVER
EVER
HURT HER
OR LEAVE HER
LIKE HER DADDY WAS ALWAYS DOING,
CONSTANTLY.
WAS THANKFUL,
THOUGH,
'CUZ
HER SWEET JESUS KNEW
HOW HARD LIFE WAS FOR HER,
HE KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT HER.
AND GOD HAD A PLAN FOR HER LIFE
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING,
EVEN BEFORE HE SAID,
"LET THERE BE LIGHT."
GOD KNEW ALL ABOUT HER
AND HAD A PLAN
EVEN WHEN
SHE WAS INSIDE
HER MOM'S TUMMY,
WHICH SOUNDED KINDA
MADE UP AND FUNNY.
BUT THE GENTLE GIANT
KNEW IT WAS TRUE,
JUST LIKE SHE KNEW
HER SWEET JESUS LOVED HER
UNCONDITIONALLY
AND THAT HE WOULD NEVER
EVER
HURT HER
OR LEAVE HER
LIKE HER DADDY WAS ALWAYS DOING,
CONSTANTLY.
REMEMBER, PLEASE,
JESUS LOVES YOU TOO.
SO MUCH SO
THAT HE DIED ON A CROSS
FOR ALL OF US.
NO MATTER HOW TALL
OR SMALL YOU ARE,
OR IF YOUR HAIR IS LONG
OR SHORT,
OR STRAIGHT,
OR CURLY,
OR RED,
OR BLOND,
OR BROWN OR BLACK OR WHITE,
OR WHAT COLOR YOUR SKIN IS,
YOU
ARE MADE
JUST THE WAY YOU WERE MEANT TO BE MADE.
AND GOD DOES NOT MAKE MISTAKES.
READ THE BIBLE,
THE BASIC INSTRUCTIONS
BEFORE LEAVING EARTH
IF YOU DON'T WANNA BELIEVE ME,
THE GENTLE GIANT.
AND THE GENTLE GIANT REMEMBERED HEARING
SOMEWHERE
THAT IF GOD HAD MADE
EVERYONE THE SAME,
THEN HOW ON EARTH
WOULD WE KNOW WHO WAS WHO
OR REMEMBER ANYONE'S NAME.
THAT MADE HER GIGGLE
OUT LOUD.
IT WAS
PROBABLY
A GOOD THING, SHE THOUGHT,
SHE WAS ALONE IN HER FORT
'CUZ
SHE KNEW
IF THE OTHER TWO
HEARD HER GIGGLE
WHEN NO ONE ELSE WAS AROUND,
THAT WOULD JUST GIVE THEM
YET ANOTHER REASON
TO TEASE HER,
TELL HER SHE WAS NOT ONLY
DUMB AND UGLY,
BUT CRAZY, TOO.
AND THAT WOULD MAKE HER CRY.
THAT WOULD MAKE GRANDMA
MAD,
WHEN SHE CRIED,
AND ALL THREE OF THEM
WOULD GET SPANKED.
BUT SHE LOVED THAT FARM,
'CUZ
SHE LOVED HER GRANDDADDY
AND SHE KNEW HE LOVED HER,
AND SHE GOT TO BE ALONE
WITH HER BESTEST FRIEND
IN THE WHOLE WIDE UNIVERSE --
HER SWEET JESUS.
JESUS LOVES YOU TOO.
SO MUCH SO
THAT HE DIED ON A CROSS
FOR ALL OF US.
NO MATTER HOW TALL
OR SMALL YOU ARE,
OR IF YOUR HAIR IS LONG
OR SHORT,
OR STRAIGHT,
OR CURLY,
OR RED,
OR BLOND,
OR BROWN OR BLACK OR WHITE,
OR WHAT COLOR YOUR SKIN IS,
YOU
ARE MADE
JUST THE WAY YOU WERE MEANT TO BE MADE.
AND GOD DOES NOT MAKE MISTAKES.
READ THE BIBLE,
THE BASIC INSTRUCTIONS
BEFORE LEAVING EARTH
IF YOU DON'T WANNA BELIEVE ME,
THE GENTLE GIANT.
AND THE GENTLE GIANT REMEMBERED HEARING
SOMEWHERE
THAT IF GOD HAD MADE
EVERYONE THE SAME,
THEN HOW ON EARTH
WOULD WE KNOW WHO WAS WHO
OR REMEMBER ANYONE'S NAME.
THAT MADE HER GIGGLE
OUT LOUD.
IT WAS
PROBABLY
A GOOD THING, SHE THOUGHT,
SHE WAS ALONE IN HER FORT
'CUZ
SHE KNEW
IF THE OTHER TWO
HEARD HER GIGGLE
WHEN NO ONE ELSE WAS AROUND,
THAT WOULD JUST GIVE THEM
YET ANOTHER REASON
TO TEASE HER,
TELL HER SHE WAS NOT ONLY
DUMB AND UGLY,
BUT CRAZY, TOO.
AND THAT WOULD MAKE HER CRY.
THAT WOULD MAKE GRANDMA
MAD,
WHEN SHE CRIED,
AND ALL THREE OF THEM
WOULD GET SPANKED.
BUT SHE LOVED THAT FARM,
'CUZ
SHE LOVED HER GRANDDADDY
AND SHE KNEW HE LOVED HER,
AND SHE GOT TO BE ALONE
WITH HER BESTEST FRIEND
IN THE WHOLE WIDE UNIVERSE --
HER SWEET JESUS.
MAY YOU BE HAPPY
AND BE BLESSED
AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE LOVED
AND THAT YOU ARE MADE
JUST THE WAY GOD INTENDED.
MUCH LOVE
FROM THE GENTLE GIANT,
AKA
SUNSHINE.
AND BE BLESSED
AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE LOVED
AND THAT YOU ARE MADE
JUST THE WAY GOD INTENDED.
MUCH LOVE
FROM THE GENTLE GIANT,
AKA
SUNSHINE.
ME AT 13 PETTING MY DOG TOBY IN THE BACKYARD AT MY MOM AND PAPA'S HOUSE IN ANAHEIM. THIS IS NOT LONG AFTER MY SWEET GRANDDADDY WENT TO BE WITH JESUS.
ME, NOW, HAPPILY MARRIED. SUNSHINE AGAIN.
JOHN 3:16 - FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.
PSALM 17:8 - KEEP ME AS THE APPLE OF YOUR EYE; HIDE ME IN THE SHADOW OF YOUR WINGS.
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