Why do you laugh at me
And tease me I cry
My self-esteem’s been shattered
Since the age of 5 – I’ve asked WHY

I’ve been over weight all my life
Making it hard to fit in
When others called me “fatty”
Mom would say “it’s just thick skin”

For many years I’ve allowed others
To determine my competence and worth
Suicide bound as a teen
I felt I had no place on this earth

I was on the road to destruction
But the Lord helped me see
That as a child of God
I was okay being me

I began to nurture my mind and body
Looking much differently at life
I’m 100 pounds lighter now
And I’m a mother and a wife

My children are inter-racial
Faced with adversity everyday
Though my 5 year old who “wished to die”
Is my inspiration for pursuing this today

Thank you and God Bless.
By Shelley Pieper-Reynolds ©, 2003 

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It was then that I truly realized
His sense of self was far from sound
Yet this painful plague’s not his alone
Open your eyes – it’s all around

Raising Our Self Esteem
Or R.O.S.E. as I would say
Has become a driving force for me
Most of us hurting in some kind of way

Self-esteem applies to everyone
It has no gender, age or race
Though it affects our thoughts and actions
Far deeper than any look upon our face

Our ultimate goal is world peace
Therefore we must unite as one indeed
Striving to first find inner peace
Let’s work together to plant the seed

I intend to touch lives in a positive way
Raising awareness to all those I see
I will share of myself to help others
Being the disciple God’s asked of me

From time to time we may feel inadequate
Which is natural given all that we do
But the Lord answers these insecurities
By saying “Go in faith … I’ll be with you”