Try as we might to forget the criticisms, the names, they linger in our memories and influence our self-perceptions as adults. The intervening years have done little to erase whatever emotional scars we acquired as children. ~ Casey, Karen. Each Day a New Beginning: Daily Meditations for Women. Hazelden Publishing. Kindle Edition.

“Red Rover, Red Rover,
let Fat Domino come over.”
And the nine-year-old me ran,
my eyes so overflowing with tears
and my insecurity so triggered
even the cause of the “chubby”dress size
lacked the heft to break through
the locked hands of these people.
I didn’t know them, denizens of a tiny town,
they’d known each other forever.
I was the newcomer who couldn’t remember names.
I got mad…not at the boy who was trying to include me
but at myself.
“Try as we might to forget the criticisms,
the names, they linger in our memories
and influence our self-perceptions as adults.
The intervening years have done little
to erase whatever emotional scars
we acquired as children.”
Lord, let me finally forgive
that chubby little girl!