Behind the Face

Behind every face is a story and there are a lot of times where we don’t know the story.  We see the bright eyes and charming smile, but we don’t see inside, to the heart that may be breaking apart.

A few years back I knew a girl who smiled a lot. A girl who appeared to be happy, but she wasn’t. A girl who reached out for help, but was met by closed doors. Why the closed doors?  The Mom refused to believe that her daughter was hurting. Others agreed, for after all this girl was from a “good” family, a “good” church, why would she have any problems?

Sounds crazy doesn’t it? Why are we so quick to assume that if you have good things in life that you must not have anything to struggle about! It’s crazy, but I see it happen all the time. We look at ones who live in grand houses and always dressed to a T and think, “Gee, they must have it made!” When in reality the house may be big and spacious, but totally devoid of love, making the person feel very empty inside.

People of every size, shape and color face times of struggle and can feel depressed. That little boy that sits in the cafeteria alone every day, can be just as lonely as the bubbly girl who is surrounded by a group of friends. We can’t see their hearts, by just looking at their face. We need to see behind their eyes and if they let you in to see that, don’t turn them away.

Don’t make light of their troubles, for to them they may be big. Be the one who listens and who can help lift them up, so that when they smile again, it can reflect their heart!

I am so grateful to the ones who have lifted me up in life, when I have needed a helping hand. The ones who have made me truly smile again!

Today, I think again about that girl I once knew and wonder what happened to her. I pray that she has found or will find someone who she can open her heart too. I also pray for the reader who may need someone to see into their heart, and to lend them a helping hand. Know that there are those who care, you are not alone!

No One Could See

“Keep pushing down the pain!”, says the brain to the heart. “I am fine and carefree,  that is the lie that we need people to believe.”

The smile gleams and the eyes shine. “It is  working”,   says the face. “The mask is firmly in place! Eye!, Quick,  blink back that stray tear. Don’t worry brain, no one shall ever see the truth hidden in me.”

For years, they worked as a team, each one knew its place. The disguise was so good, they all were fooled. No one knew what the disguise so cleverly hid. But as the years went by the stress  inside continued to build and grew harder to conceal. Heart started causing brain some concern.

“Hey brain, I am feeling the strain of this game. I am not sure how much further down  this pain can be pushed. The weight of this pain is getting too heavy for me!  Are you sure that we can’t let anyone see?”

“Are you crazy?”,  asked the brain, “You know the rules of this game! You can’t let them see the real you. What will they think of the buried secrets that you hold deep inside?  Remember you closed yourself up and threw away the key. That is the way things needed to be. It will be fine, you will see. Keep pushing, NO! You can’t let them see.”

“Eyes, what are you doing? You are looking a little too worn. Is that tears that I see? Are you letting them leak out of you? Plug that leak!  Where is your sparkle? Where is your shine?  C’mon guys, you have to step up the game! Now is the time!”

“Ohhh…. Oh…this pain is too much, I need air!”,  says the heart. ” I am being squeezed, I feel like I can’t breathe!”

“Face, what has happened to your color?” asked the brain, ” What is that strange pallor?  You are looking too pale, where is your gleam?”

“Hey Eyes, what’s wrong, are you there? Stop that vacant stare, you are scaring me!  What is happening? “, cries the brain? “This isn’t the way things are supposed to be!”

“Blood pressure falling fast! We are losing him!”

“Hey guys, do you hear me? Wake up! What happened to the charade we were all playing? I thought things  were going fine, at least that was the way they appeared to be! You not only fooled everyone else, you even fooled me!”

“I see it now, I was wrong, go ahead and let people see. No more games.  I will reveal the real me, secrets and all. Did you hear me? You can wake up now,  please! This silence is deafening!  Wake up everyone! OH NO! What have I done?”

“Oh Man! I, I…..things are getting….fuz…fuzzy. This wasn’t the way…..just keep push…ppp..pushing down the pain…. that way it wouldn’t harm me… that’s what I had belie…”

“Time of death. 12:35am.”

They covered him with a sheet, no one could see.