you dont ask

You break my heart some days
The tears in your eyes
Make me want to
Take the pain
You shoulder your burdens
You take a lot of the blame
behind a mask
You don't let anyone
See you break

You let me in only so far
But I'm willing to wait
I made some mistakes
Given you reason to hesitate
Someday I hope to see that erased

I've seen you grow and change
I see you looking inside
For the balance
You have longed to find

Your determination
In all you do
Your willingness to listen
Your unconditional love
For friends and family
You don't ask for
the same for yourself
I wish you would
Your surprise that someone
Would defend you shouldn't be

I love you,
Not because you love me,
But for your strength,
Even when you think it's gone,
Your humility
Your ability to find the good in something
Despite the situation,
Your unconditional love of your children,
The quiet way you offer support
That I don't think you know you do

I'm far from perfect
I've proven that
But I hope to
Be the one that gets to see
The you
That you want to be