On Being Yourself

My favorite thing about being home is late night talks with my mom. I've mentioned before that good conversation is like breathing for me and last night's deep breath changed me. The interesting thing is I know I have heard this a thousand times before, but I finally get it now. We were talking about how babies and young children are so real. You can see their true selves, their spirits, because they have not yet been taught to feel pride or shame. They have nothing to prove, no expectations to meet, and no one to impress. Their personalities and reactions are untainted. Little children don't begrudge or resent anyone, instead they effortlessly share in each other's joy. As we grow up, our true selves become weighed down by assumptions and appearances and we wonder if we are good enough for this big world. Now children are not flawless, they are learning, but imagine if we could learn without having to hide our spirits from each other. I think this is one thing Christ means when He asks us to become as little children. Maybe He is asking us to be ourselves--untainted, without pride, and not so suspicious. He is asking us to let the other stuff go and retrieve our first selves, because that person has always been good enough.