After seeing this baby, I started thinking of the things that we have been wrongly taught growing up. Not as a fault of certain parents, but just as a part of humanity after the fall of man.
When we were babies, we naturally cried out when we were sad or needed something. That was the natural thing to do. Somewhere along the way, we all were taught that it was wrong to have feelings and emotions and we had to cover them up. When we see people who are really honest with their feelings and opening up, they are labeled “too emotional”. When in reality, I think most of these people are the ones who have been encouraged to really be themselves with all of their emotions. Now, we have volunteer programs like the World Race encouraging us to relearn what it means to have all of our feelings. When I was typing this out last week, my first words were “This is messed up!!!” and it is.
Another thing we have learned as children.
We have learned to not be honest and open. We say that children say the darndest of things and they do. But when we use that phrase, we use it in reference to them speaking what is on their mind. THE TRUTH. Somewhere along the way, we have taught children to keep their thoughts and opinions inside and to not say those “darndest” things again.
To some of you, these things may seem far fetched, but I believe that they are truly imbedded into us. I think we all have a deep desire and longing to have deep relationships with honesty and openness and emotions. I believe God doesn’t just want you to have these kinds of relationships with your spouse, but with others in your life as well.
I was reading in Ephesians one night and this verse stuck out to me.
Paul says, “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body” Ephesians 4:25.
What is keeping you from taking off your mask of falsehood today? What are you afraid people will see? I want you to know that God thinks every part of you is wonderful. He created you. He doesn’t want you to hide pieces of your life. Put off falsehood today and speak the Truths that God teaches.
I pray that God leads and guides you to relearn those childhood lessons you have been wrongly taught. When you do this, you will not be disappointed, but you will receive a freedom you have never experienced.
Are you willing to be a kid that says and does the darndest of things today?
