Freckle: (noun) any of the small brownish spots on the skin that are caused by deposition of pigment and that increase in number and darken on exposure to sunlight.
Up until second grade I felt gloriously blessed by my "angel kisses." Although (in hindsight), I may have had the sneaking suspicion that my mother was compensating for something when she gave me an extra sweet smile to accompany her explanation of why I had freckles, I accepted it: I was unusually blessed by Heaven. Who wouldn't want to believe that hundreds of angels loved them enough leave their mark? -Enter Ashley Salls.-
She was one of those girls. Long blond (perfectly parted) hair, blue eyes, frilly clothes and matching bows. I remember well a day when Mrs. Donaldson asked the two of us to run to the office for her. On the way, Ashley Salls stretched out her long, tan arms (with blond arm hairs to boot) and asked me why I had all those FRECKLES all over me. When I opened my mouth to explain to her that I was exceptionally loved in Heaven, I instantly knew that no one would believe that my freckles were angels' marks. Especially not Ashley Salls.
Spangle: (noun) any small bright object or spot; (verb) to decorate or sprinkle with.
Luckily with time (and several failed attempts at staying out in the sun long enough that all of my freckles would grow together into one big, perfectly tan freckle) I realized that the key to my spangled happiness was not more sun exposure, but (you guessed it) accepting myself- freckles and all. Call them what you will, freckles, sun kisses, angel kisses, age spots or benign melanosis, choosing to see myself as "spangled with angel kisses" instead of simply "covered in freckles" has helped me understand that I really am exceptionally loved in Heaven. And thank you, Ashley Salls.
"A face without freckles is like a sky without stars." -Natasha Bedingfield
