Your Brightest Lifeਨਮੂਨਾ

Sometimes “childhood you” needs to be remembered.

Once upon a time, there was a little girl who wore a tutu over footie pajamas and laughed even when no one was looking. When she heard her favorite toddler songs, she sang loud and danced louder. After nap time, she played with her dolly and built towers out of blocks. At night, she lined her stuffed friends along the perimeter of her bed just so, and, after reading and prayer, shared special kisses with her mommy. She never tired of playing make-believe with her friends, and when given the smallest role, she just asked to play again. Again and again. The girl was loved. And the girl was happy.

Time did what time will do, and the little girl grew some. She outgrew her footie pajamas, traded her dolly for an American Girl with fancy outfits, and played Legos for hours. Sometimes, she sang along to her favorite songs and danced when no one was watching. When her family moved to a new town, she was quick to be kind, giving little gifts to her classmates. She never tired of inviting kids to play. Even when they stopped saying yes, she found the courage to ask again. Again and again. Yet the girl was loved. And the girl was happy.

Time did what time will do, and the little girl grew some more. She packed her doll and Legos into boxes and checked her outfit in the mirror before leaving for school. Each day she carried a backpack full of textbooks, but the weight of insecurity was heavier. She learned that kindness doesn’t always make you the friends you want, and worried “he” would never notice her. When she heard her favorite songs, she was careful not to sing too loud. She never tired of checking her phone, and when she wasn’t included, she tried harder to fit in again. Again and again. The girl wondered if she was loved. And the girl was rarely happy.

But time will do what time will do, and the little girl will grow some more. She’ll pack her room into boxes and make her way into the great big world. When she moves to a new town, she’ll make friends by being kind, and she’ll see that she herself is a gift to others. At night, she’ll wonder why she cared so much what everyone else thought about her, and make peace with the parts of her she wanted to change. She’ll sing loud to every song, and when life pushes her down, she’ll let God help her back up again. Again and again. Because the girl will know she is always loved. And I hope, once again, she’ll be happy.

• What were you like when you were younger?
• How are you still that way? How are you different?
• What parts of your younger self do you want to keep today? As you become an adult?