I Am Not from a supportive home

            not from joy, or peace

        I Am Not  from wild dreams

          not from laughter or wide smiles

        I Am Not from “follow your heart” or “live your own dream”

          not from “we believe in you”, not “well done,” “you’d be great”

       I Am Not from doves, nor olive branches

          not from victory signs nor shalom.

       I Am Not from the peace that passes all understanding.

   I Wish I Was from The Bread of Life, 

       from the Eucharist, the Spirit, the Lamb of God.

    I Wish I Was from support and strong, loving hands

        from strength, courage and fortitude.

     I Wish I Was from gratitude for the blessings in my life

         from I think before I act, from I can make decisions that have positive, not negative effects.

       I Wish I Was from confidence and not shyness

          from I like the way I look, inside and out.

       I Wish my heart and soul are happy.

              I Will Be from jubilation

                   from hiking on rickety bridges, swaying in the wind, from swimming in cold waters

              I Will Be from a rustic house, from adults talking and rambunctious children playing   

                  from ten AM mornings with pop-tarts and late nights in my warm, cozy bed                                                   

               I Will Be from a lively church with sunlight streaming through the windows 

                    from a joyful community and hugs from my favorite people

                I Am Not from confidence, I Wish I Was from strength, I Will Be from serenity