As I was walking to meet a friend today, my feet were aching. It reminded me of this poem that I found early on in this journey. I think it's very, very appropriate, though I'm not so sure about the strength part, not really feeling that yet.

My Shoes

I am wearing a pair of shoes.

They are ugly shoes, uncomfortable shoes, I hate my shoes.

Each day I wear them, and each day I wish I had another pair.

Some days my shoes hurt so badly that I do not think I can take another step.

Yet I continue to wear them,

I get funny looks wearing these shoes.

They are looks of sympathy I can tell in others' eyes,

yet they are glad they are my shoes and not their's.

They never talk about my shoes.

To learn how awful my shoes are might make them uncomfortable.

To truly understand these shoes, you must walk in them.

But once you put them on, you can never take them off.

I realize that I am not the only one who wears these shoes.

There are many pairs in the world.

Some women are like me and ache daily as they walk in them,

Some have learned how to walk in them so that they don't hurt quite so much.

Some have worn the shoes so long that days will go

before they think about how much they hurt.

No woman deserves to wear these shoes.

Yet, because of these shoes, I am a stronger woman.

These shoes have given me strength to face anything.

They have made me who I am.

I will forever walk in the shoes of a woman who has lost a child.

-Author Unknown-