One summer during my early teens, my church was at a particular retreat site that was managed by a married couple. This couple had an adorable little girl. I think she was probably 3-years-old at the time. Needless to say, all my teenage friends and I wanted to play with this little girl. She happily played with everyone except me. Finally, her dad asked her why she didn't want to play with me. Her response was, "Because she's ugly."
I never forgot that incident. This was hard to hear as an awkward teenage girl. I never thought I was physically attractive, but to hear it confirmed by a child really hurt. After all, aren't children naturally honest?
But I received a bit of redemption this week.
I was in LA these past couple of weeks. (I'm now at LAX waiting for my flight back to Vancouver.) To catch up with each others' lives, Angela and I decided to go out for dinner on Sunday night. We went to a Shanghainese restaurant (Mama's Lu Dumpling House) that my mom recommended. When we walked into the restaurant, Charice was there, along with her husband, 3-year-old twins, new baby girl, mom and aunt. It was such a pleasant surprise to see them all. But because it was our "catching-up time," Angela and I did not join them for dinner.
Towards the end of dinner, Maddie (the girl twin) came up to me and just stood there smiling at me. After several seconds, she finally said to me, "You're very beautiful."
Maybe I've grown out of my awkward teenage phase or maybe Maddie is less selective. Whatever the reason, Maddie absolutely made my day... actually my week. Thanks Maddie.
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5 comments:
I think you are pretty and I mean it
Ah....how special is that!! Moral of the story...no matter how young or old we are, we all need affirmation one way or the other. True? So keep trekking and remember to give encouragement to everyone you and I meet. There may be another "Eunice" in our path.
You are beautiful and Eunique ;)
I actually have somewhat a similar story, except it was as a young adult. It was the daughter of a couple I admired, but she didn't say anything but all she had to do was give me a look with hate and disgust every time I'm present. Everytime. I love the couple, but the daughter couldn't stand the sight of me. She's a kid, but it still hurts. I've never told them or anyone actually. They moved churches, but after a few years, I saw her as an older tween at a recent wedding and I said hello to her. For the first time, she hesitantly allowed herself to say hi to me without her mom being around to make her. Not what I call triumphant per se, but at least I've graduated to a human-maybe.
You ARE beautiful inside and out. I hope Maddie will grow up understanding the value of inner beauty. "Auntie Eunice veelly beoo-ful!"
aww eunice... you are a beautiful! it sometime breaks my heart how honest children are, but you have to keep in mind that they can't see past their noses as well. their world is all about them and their attraction to those that look like their parents. i am a firm believer of this. so the point being, you don't look like her parents. =) haha... like i once said... you're toooo thoughtful. it either hurts you or makes you better. (want me to convince taylor to seek that little girl out and bite her?! haha)
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