a waltz when she walks in the room
she pulls back the hair from her face
she turns to the window to sway in the moonlight
even her shadow has grace...

grace-that word stands out to me today as i reflect on the revelry that occurred last night. i went to a sweet sixteen party and found, although i am only a year older than the other girls present, i am at a higher level than they are. i don't mean to be judgemental or a snob but i'm only speaking truth. my aunt said this to my mom just a few minutes ago "i look at amanda, and she's only a year older than the rest of those girls, but she has so much grace and poise and she's so pretty. There's just a difference."
what's the normality you may ask? compared to me, the other girls were dressed in short cocktail dresses, grinding on the guys, and making complete fools of themselves. the only thing graceful about the one being honored was her gown. her speech for her 16 candles was atrocious, grammatical errors, substituted word for the F word, and cursing up a storm. as soon as she was dressed more casually, she joined in the club-like dancing, allowing to be sucked into a lap dance performed by a perverted, immature, boy. we were there for less than an hour before my brothers stormed out of the hall enraged. i said my goodbyes and followed them.
where is the grace in the girls today? do they have any self-respect, any dignity? words such as elegance, honor, and beauty are so native to them it's pathetic. and again, i am only a year older than they are. so why am i so different? perhaps it is because i have strict boundaries and rules to abide by, that i have been reared in the way of the Lord ever since i was born, that i have been taught to respect elders and how to speak, dress, and behave. my parents' expectations for me are very high so i must carry myself accordingly. maybe this is why i don't have a boyfriend, because i'm looking for more.
i am so thankful i go to a private Christian school where integrity and morality are taught on a day-to-day basis. i take what i have for granted way too much and my eyes were opened last night to what i could have been. i am so thankful i am not part of that crowd.






proverbs 31:30