You’ll Never Amount to Anything

Paper Poetry

You’ll never amount to anything…

Damaging words so easily spoken

embedded in my mind.

You think that I forgot — kids do, you say

but what may not have been in my surface memory

was in my cells.

It affected my life — my choices — my willingness to take risks —

my belief in myself.

It has come to me later in life

just how much your words hurt me.

I finally recognize the lie.

I am inherently valuable —

a product of God’s creation.

I don’t have to earn anything, prove anything….to you.

I know three things:

Your words were about you — not me.

When my search for joy became strong,

your words became my motivation.

And finally, they brought me to a place of forgiveness

first for you, then for me.

That hurt child with me is now solidly, confidently,

within my heart

Receiving love.

And now I can say

Thank you.