Maybe a lie was spoken over you too!

and they stick with us far beyond the time of their telling.

It was my first day of school as a 5 year old and I was … over the moon excited!  As I sat on the window ledge intently watching my mom sew what I thought was the most beautiful dress ever … fit for a princess, I was giddy with excitement just thinking what my first day would be like.

I walked into school that crisp fall day feeling like a beautiful princess. Little did I know that at the tender age of 5 … another class mates words would change the course of my life. I would believe a LIE that was spoken to me in just a matter of seconds … for many years to come.

I believed this LIE all the way into my adult life. A few simple words is all it took. “You Look Like A Little Amish Girl” he said .... with a snarled look on his face. The teasing continued. I later picked myself up from under the Merry Go Round after being pushed off, trying to hide my dusty tear stained face and brushing the dust off of my newly sewn dress that my Mama made for me. My heart was crushed! I no longer felt like a beautiful princess. I felt different, I felt ugly. Who would want to play with me now?

Perhaps negative words were spoken over you by a parent, teacher or even other playmates growing up. Depending on how deep the wound, those memories and negative words can dictate the course of our life if we let it.

Just like when my 8th grade teacher told my Mom that I would “never amount to anything”… was a huge wound in my tender heart. My Mom was wise enough not to tell me what she said until many years later but yet, somehow I new it, I felt it. It lowered my self esteem, my self worth and I didn't feel good about myself.

Even more powerful than words of others are the words we speak against ourselves if we choose to believe the lies spoken over us. I’m not good enough, I’m never going to amount to anything, no one likes me. These are self-defeating words that kill the power and potential in our life. 

Patterns of negative thinking and feeling bad about ourselves can be difficult to break. These unpleasant feelings become routine. Studies have shown that a negative attitude has a dramatic effect on all areas of our lives and are destructive to our health. If we allow negative thoughts about ourselves  multiply or left untreated, it can lead to depression, stress, fear, unworthiness, shame and even affect our relationships. 

Because I grew up not liking myself, I was extremely shy, insecure and an introvert as a child. When I got married I felt like I was not Good Enough. Why would my husband want me? In fact our early stages of marriage I would ask him, why do you love me ... why did you marry ME? His Calm and honest answer was alway, I love you because you’re you. I married you because I love you.

I simply had to learn to love myself. I still struggle at times with my ‘inner critic’ and I mentally beat  myself up for not being good enough at times. But I’m more aware and conscious of it now and instead of dwelling on my weaknesses and flaws I dwell on the postive things about me and the thing I have accomplished.

I'm all about relationships and what makes people tick where as at one time I would shy away from people and not let them see the real me. I’m much more transparent and vaulnerable with myself instead of pretending I am someone that I’m not. These days you get the true me and that my friend... is freedom!

At some point along the way I got a fire inside of me and I set out to prove that those negative words really WERE lies and I was going to prove them wrong! And I did!

With the help positive people in my life, professional counselors, and realizing Who I Am In Christ, I can say…. I let go of that lie that was formed in my 5 year old brain. Because you see, it really was not who I was.

In doing so it changed the course of my life into a more positive way of thinking. I've become more confident and secure and I actually like who I am. It's the way God intended me to be and... feel about myself. 

So tell me, are you beliveing a lie that was spoken to you? I want to hear your story. Everyone has a story to tell, and ... telling your story could be the beginning of setting you free as well. Telling your story is where the freedom begins.