This little girl is trying to be fierce.

 

Is it working?

 

Many of us put on a mask of anger when we feel threatened or scared.

 

One time my teenage daughter Mercy decided she was hungry. The food in the kitchen was not interesting enough so she and her friend decided to walk to Wawa's. Now this would not have been newsworthy if A. Wawa's was closer than two miles away and B. It was not midnight. 

 

When I figured out what had happened I put on my tigress mask. I growled. I snarled. Since she was already exhausted from lack of sleep and hours of walking for a mere candy bar, Mercy was ill equipped for my attack and burst into tears.

 

The tragic part of that messy moment was that I was not really angry. I was frightened. I knew that it was dangerous for two young girls to walk alone at 1 am, and the terror of what might have happened took over my body. 

 

Not only that, the fear was a secondary response too. The core feeling was love. 

 

Why was it too hard for me to throw my arms around her?

 

"I love you with all my heart and I am so grateful that you are safe!"

 

Those were the only words worth expressing. 

Photo by Jenny Stein

www.caringformarriage.org