The Healing Journey

November 5, 2024

“If you are humble, nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are
― Mother Teresa

How do you identify yourself? A mother, a father, a wife, a husband, a grandparent, an executive, a laborer, a senior, a homemaker, a son, a daughter, a teacher, a leader … the possibilities are endless and at the end of the day, they’re inadequate descriptions.

Our true identity is much more than our profession, our job, our livelihood, our relationships, our possessions and our bank account. And certainly greater than our resume. At the same time, we’re more than the struggles and tribulations we endure in life and than our flaws and sins. Because when we define ourselves by those measurements, we fall far short of the way God sees us. And when we take credit for our successes, we fall even further from the mark because all of it comes from God.

You are much more than all those human measurements and endeavors.

St. Francis de Sales, who came from nobility and resisted his father’s wishes that he go into politics, once said: “Have patience with all things but first with yourself. Never confuse your mistakes with your value as a human being. You are a perfectly valuable, creative, worthwhile person, simply because you exist. And no amount of triumphs or tribulations can ever change that.”

Those are words worth remembering. You have value “simply because you exist,” not because of your title, your CV, your politics, your education, your assets or the number of followers you have on social media. You should appreciate the immense gift you have been given.

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