Your Smile

The love you’ve given me
Is more than I deserve
The love I have for you
Is what I’m trying to put into words

You watched me take my first steps
You heard my very first word
You wiped away my first tears
And lied for me when I killed Tina’s bird

You stood by my side through every day
You were there when I went to bed
You were there when I awoke
You always kept me warm and well fed.

You taught me to ride a bike
You tried not to laugh when I’d fall
You kissed my scrapes and bruises
And smiled through it all

You woke me up with a vacuum
You told me to earn my own money
You forgot to get me at the airport
Then laughed because it really was kind of funny

You sent me off in planes
To see the wonders of the world
You gave me every opportunity
To realize I am more than just a girl

To you I am just me
I’m pierced and tattooed
I drink and I smoke
I stayed out late, and broke the rules

You worried because you cared
You cried when I was in pain
You saw me for who I was
Even if you thought I was insane

You giggled at my first crush
You frowned at my first boyfriend
You held me through my first heartache
You always helped my heart to mend.

You cared when I told myself you didn’t
You did what was best for me
Even if I didn’t like it
You smile and said someday I would see.

I never thought you hated me
Or for a second you weren’t proud
I always knew you loved me
And wish I’d said I love you more out loud

You knew when to listen
You knew when to advise
You knew when to hug me
You knew when I just needed to cry

You taught me to be good
To treat others how I wanted to be treated
To love each and every person
And not to be arrogant or conceited

This year I’ve learned to say goodbye
I’ve learned to let go
I’ve learned “life lessons”
I’ve been through much pain and sorrow

I’ve also learned that I am strong
And I may not know everything
But I know that I am happier now
I know that I can do anything

I’m taking a scary step
Becoming my own person
Finding out what I want to do
And finally becoming a woman

You watched me make mistakes
You helped me learn from them what I could
You told me not to repeat them
But with a smile, you knew I probably would

Mom, you let me go my own way
You’ve been there for me through tears and trials
You held my hand and said
“Follow your heart,Do what makes you smile”

Dad, you let me choose my own path
You walked me down the aisle
And when I walked back to you
You held me through my tears and smiled.

You’ve watched over me through my pain
You’ve seen my endless tears
You’ve seen my heart break over and over
But in the end, I’ve got little left to fear.

You’ve taught me to become my own person
To love myself first
To be kind and good and thoughtful
To smile when I think I’m cursed

I want to say thank you
For each and every day
For the love and the lessons
You’re smiles have brought me a long way.

You’ve been with me for always
You’ve been my inspiration
All I want to become
My every admiration

Because of you I am a good person
I know that life isn’t walked on a line
I don’t worry about anything that comes my way
Because of you I know I’ll be fine

What you’ve done for me
Is more than I’ll ever be able to say
So on this Christmas day I’ll say this
I wake every morning, and smile at the day
I thank God for my life
I wouldn’t have it any other way.