It's been over a month now since I first received the box. I'm amazed at how my life has changed. Things seem a lot brighter.

Oh yeah. And Sophia, that speaker who came to school, well I've been hanging out with her a lot lately. She's kind of became my mentor. She tells me about her struggles with not scratching or hurting herself, and I don't know... it just makes me feel more safe and open to speak. I'm not alone.

Speaking of that. "Kristen!" Sophia's voice comes from outside the front of my house.

"Coming Sophia!" I call back. I check myself again in the mirror. Yes, you heard right. I said mirror. I confessed to my parents and showed them what I had done to the one in my bedroom. They were upset. Not because of the broken glass. But because of me, broken me. We got a new glass for it, and I painted the wood frame that had blood stains a pure white. For some reason that just felt right, but I can't explain why.

I smile as I pass my box. I wish I knew who had done this. I'd like them to thank them for helping to change my life.

"Took you long enough." Sophia teases as I lock the front door behind me, and get in the  passenger seat of her little blue Pontiac. I just smile. Truthfully, I'm a bit nervous right now. Sophia is in control of youth music at her church. She is really passionate about it, guitar, and Jesus. She's taking me to her practice meeting thing tonight. What will these Christians think of me?

.......

"Here we are." Sophia says guiding me into the church

"Maybe I should leave. I won't fit in." I finally voice my fears aloud.

"Nonsense. Most of these people are your age." She pushed me towards the room where I could hear music playing and voices singing.

The first person I spotted was my new friend Ellyn. "Ellyn?" I gasped.

"Kristen! You came!" Ellyn wrapped me in a tight hug, murmured something that sounded like 'cheese power', I just laughed. Somewhat uncertain about why she was here. Then it hit me. This is her church where she attends and plays guitar.

"I've got healthy snacks!" A familiar voice accompanied the girl pushing the door open and backing into the room. As the carrots, broccoli, and cheese came into view, I instantly recognized her too.

"Heather?" I gasped.... again. This was sort of weird. I'd encountered both of these girls. On days that I had had the song they knew or mentioned. I had been helped by the box and then I helped them. "What a coincidence..." I murmured. Sounded like one of Nicci's 'God things'.

I nearly fell over when who came in the door but Nicci herself. She was panting and carrying several bags and cases with her. "Sorry I'm late. I just got off work at the library, then I stopped to pick up A..." She cut herself off. "Kristen?!? You came!" She squealed and did a little dance, in a very unlibrarian like manner.

"This is too weird." I finally manged staring at these people around me.

Sophia just wore a knowing grin and glanced at the other girls in the room. Her facial features twitched, and then she put on a curious face. "What's weird?"

And then I found myself telling them about the box that I received on Valentine's Day. About how it had came right when I needed it the most and how I would get out a slip of paper and listen to the song and it was like a life lesson for the day. The girls were smiling and wiping their eyes as I finished.

"We should tell her." Nicci stated, looking Sophia straight in the eyes.

"I agree." Sophia nods. Then she looks to Ellyn and Heather who give sure nods.

"What is going on? Tell me what?" I asked. This keeps getting weirder.

"We know who sent the box." They all answered in unplanned unison.

Suddenly, a boy my age stumbles and trips into the room, he laughs nervously looking at everyone. As his eyes land on me, he blushes all the way up into his hairline. Nicci walked over, "This box was the brain child of none other than my cousin Andrew." She ruffled his hair and he ducked away, concentrating on his shoes, nearly tripping again. Nicci pushed him towards the chair next to mine.

Andrew brushed invisible dirt from his jeans. "H..i.." He cleared his throat. "Hi, Kristen." He gave me a shy grin, and my face felt flush.

"Andy?" Sophia breaks our awkward moment. "Do you want to start?"

Andrew nods rubbing his hands together again. "Well... you see...um..." He looks around the faces of the others in the room. "Seriously, girls? This is the most awkward moment ever. Ellyn shots him a cheesy grin, making a hand motion at the exact moment. Andrew grins, looking me intently in the eyes. "I like you Kristen." He studies his hands again. "For a while now actually. I could tell you were hurting inside and that you didn't think much of yourself. I... we could see the beautiful you... both inside and out. So I came up with the idea of the box."

"We all helped out too." Sophia gave a wide grin. "We each put a song in and a paper."

"Mine was Beautiful. I wrote about you not being ugly, but beautiful because God made you and that he doesn't make mistakes. That you are a true treasure." Heather smiles. "And then I knew you had got it when you found me..." She glances at her friends. "You found me crying in the bathroom. You mentioned the song and encouraged me. God used it as a circle of help."

Ellyn goes next, "For me it was Circles." She laughs. "Of course I already told you what the song meant to me. God was in this so much that it almost makes me outta my mind."

Nicci told me about using Broken. Sophia with Closer Than The Angels. My heart was pounding. I looked at Andrew.

"I honestly put several different notes in there. Including the long page note." His face glows bright red again. "I also did the flowers. Then there was just one last song I wanted you to hear."

"Through My Father's Eyes?" I asked.

"How did you know?" Andrew looks at me, wide-eyed.

"It was today's song. I was nervous about coming to a church. And it was the song for today." I said wiping my tears.

"We might as well play it." Sophia looks at everyone. And as they all sing together they come together in perfect harmony.

So many days I listen

To the voice inside my head

I never thought that I'd be

Someone who could be misled

I wanted the mirror to show me

Something I could not see

I needed explanations for expectations

I could never reach

I know I'm not the only one

Who's ever cried for help

And Jesus did for me

What I could not do myself

He changed my life

I'm changing my mind

He healed all that was broken inside

I'm loving what I can see

With His spirit alive in me

I'm finding beauty for the first time

Looking through my Father's eyes

(Looking through my Father's eyes)

From what I see it looks like

You don't like yourself too much

When I hear you talk it sounds like

You just feel like giving up

I know it's hard to see through

What this world will tell you

'Cause misconceptions

And false reflections will never be the truth

Just know I'm not the only one

Who's ever cried for help

Jesus loves you in ways

That you cannot love yourself

He changed my life

I'm changing my mind

He healed all that was broken inside

I'm loving what I can see

With His spirit alive in me

I'm finding beauty for the first time

Looking through my Father's eyes

I can see your freedom coming

You'll be a slave to nothing

When you see through my Father's eyes

He changed my life

I'm changing my mind

He healed all that was broken inside

I'm loving what I can see

With His spirit alive in me

I'm finding beauty for the first time

Looking through my Father's eyes

I can see your freedom coming

(I can see your freedom coming)

You'll be a slave to nothing

(You'll be a slave to nothing)

I'm finding beauty for the first time

Looking through my Father's eyes

(I'm finding beauty for the first time)

(Looking through my Father's eyes)

Before they finish, I join in already knowing the words though I only heard it this morning, and then I start crying. Andrew takes my hand in his tenderly. "I first got this idea when you came to school with your hand bandaged. I know you tried to hide it, but I saw." He looks me in the eyes. "I didn't want you to hurt anymore, Kristen. God loves you. And there are plenty of people that do too."

They then told me that every time they practiced the song, they would pray for me. That stunned me. Then before the next hour was over, I had prayed. I didn't know any fancy words to say, but it was straight from my heart.

From now on out, even when I doubt, I have friends and the King of Kings to back me up. One thing they won't let me forget. Now I'm a beautiful princess.

Praise God.

The End