To Know Her

You think you know her; you think she has shown you her soul.

You’ve had rambling conversations and you’ve seen a glint in her eyes.

You see what she presents to the world and you – just like others – 

Have fallen.

You have only just scratched the surface.

How do you delve into her soul and come to know her?

Don’t force your way in; she will walk away if you push her around.

Watch how she lives her life and take time to soak in her spirit; 

It is rich.

Until you’ve done that, you don’t know her.

There is much to learn if you are determined to know her. 

Have you seen her in mountains, on lakes, and meandering through forests?

Have you seen her stumble out of a tent and build a fire to cook on?

Have you seen her first thing in the morning – before she washes her face and brushes her hair?

Do you know what she eats to keep herself awake on road trips?

How does she sound when she sings with the radio? The songs she sings might tell a story.

Have you seen her sew? I don’t care what she makes; watch her make it.

You will see something magical if you watch her carefully.

Have you seen her break a board? Have you seen her take a hit?

Have you seen her summon everything she has to finish a fight?

Do you know about her dad? Why is her mother so important to her?

Has she told you about her dog? Respect those stories.  They are precious to her.

Have you held her as her body shook from the tears pouring out of her?

Have you gathered her off the floor when her heart shattered?

Have you watched her tend broken hearts and heavy hearts and tired hearts?

She has a magic even she doesn’t understand.  Be careful not to crush it.

Have you seen her teach something she loves and study something she hates?

How did she come to learn half the things she knows?

Do you know that rom coms and superhero films make her equally sentimental?

Have you seen her mad? It doesn’t last long, so be sure you catch it.

Do you know the dance she does when she is happy? What brings it out?

What are her fears? These are the things she rarely speaks of. Listen carefully.

Do you know the awe in her face and the sparkle in her eyes when she looks at the stars?

Where is her favorite place to watch the sun set? Watch it with her.

Have you seen her with flowers in her hair or running through the sprinkler?

Or rolling in the leaves or throwing snowballs? She’s a dead eye, you know.

Have you jumped in rain puddles with her and do you know her squeal of glee?

What is her favorite season? (She probably doesn’t know, either.)

Have you helped her plant and tend and harvest? These are the seasons that measure her time.

She’s still scared of the dark. Do you know what keeps her awake at night?

Have you gone with her to get food in the middle of the night when she can’t sleep?

Have you seen her after a day of work in the dirt? She wears the mud with pride.

Do you know how she smells just out of the shower?

Why does she go to the temple? Why does she love the scriptures?

Do you know the story of her testimony? She has walked through fire to earn her scars.

It's these things you must learn if you are determined to know her.

She will do whatever she can to shake you away. 

It’s hard for her to believe your intention to stay by her side; 

She won’t trust that your feelings are sincere; so weather her storm.

It won’t last.

And it will be worth it, to know her.