Fake Smile

As a young woman in the corner, just coming of age,

Her lifelong dream was to find love, turn the page,

To marry a man who'd treat her just right,

With friends who'd stand by her, shining so bright.

But as she grew older, her friends grew cold,

She twisted her life to fit in their mold,

Her fear of rejection grew strong and wide,

She'd do anything to feel loved and allied.

She posted pictures on Instagram's display,

Hoping her body would attract what her heart couldn't sway,

Slowly transforming into someone she's not,

Desperate for anyone to think she's hot.

But the love she craved never came her way,

Her dreams of connection seemed to fade and sway,

She may say she's fine when you ask how she's doing,

But deep inside, she's slowly been crumbling.

She tried parties and drinking, just a taste,

Anything to fill the void, the hole in her chest,

Sleeping around, hoping love would be found,

But her heart remained empty, sorrow profound.

Deep down, she knew she wasn't truly bold,

Masking her pain with a smile that was cold,

Her life seemed filled, yet inside she felt incomplete,

Aching silently, her wounds bittersweet.

On the streets, there was a boy, rough and tough,

Bullying others, trying to feel strong enough,

Putting on a show to boost his ego high,

Bringing others down to raise himself to the sky.

People assumed he was always cold as ice,

Unaware of the torment, the pain he'd entice,

At home, he faced abuse, a father always drunk,

Bruised and battered, his spirit shrunk.

Countless nights he cried himself to sleep,

Never finding solace, the pain running deep,

Lost and hopeless, he grew tired of trying,

So he hurt others first before they could leave him crying.

Taking out his anguish on kids at school,

Desperate for acceptance, to appear cool,

Deep down, he knew he wasn't truly bold,

Hiding behind a fake smile as he bled, truth untold.

We all try to conceal it, our brokenness inside,

But deep in our hearts, we know we can't hide,

Scared of the unknown, uncertain and afraid,

Longing for something, but unsure what's portrayed.

We seek validation, status, and fame,

Craving attention, favoring our own name,

We treat social media as a drug, a crutch,

To cover the pain of our friendless clutch.

Grasping at glory, chasing after acclaim,

Our self-worth tied to likes and fame,

But as soon as it fades, our hearts hit the floor,

And we drown in self-pity, our egos needing more.

We search for answers in all the wrong places,

Trying to fill the void, seeking false graces,

But what if the real answer lies not within us,

But in something greater, something beyond what we discuss?

While we're busy searching for a method or cure,

True help can only come from our Creator,

Believe it or not, the truth remains true,

That our brokenness can be healed by something we can't construe.

Whether we believe or not, it doesn't change what's real,

God sees beneath our masks, every thought, every ordeal,

He knows our endless search for acceptance and worth,

And though we don't deserve it, He offers love's rebirth.

He came as a man, died in our place,

Taking our sins, offering us grace,

Rising from the grave, showing He's alive,

Ready to save and restore, our hope to revive.

In our wretchedness and hopelessness alone,

God's love reaches out, making us His own,

Now we're alive, no longer dead inside,

As forgiven and loved children, we no longer hide.

So our smiles aren't fake, they bear the truth,

Not just a nice lifestyle or an answer that soothes,

It's in Christ, the way, the truth, and the life,

The reason behind our genuine smiles, free from strife.

No longer superficial touch-ups or temporary change,

But a supernatural transformation, heart and soul rearrange,

With each breath, each beat of our transformed hearts,

We find fulfillment, completeness, a brand new start.

So let go of the wrong places where we've been looking,

Seek true gratification, the Creator's loving cooking,

For in Him lies the answer, the ultimate key,

To mend our broken hearts and set us forever free.