Imagine That

I remember playing as a young child. My world was colorful, the possibilities limitless. 


My imagination transformed daily life into an adventure; I was a princess, my brothers were trolls. I loved to pretend with my friends. My entire third-grade year I was convinced I was a lost daughter of Zeus. My friend Melody and I spent our school recesses running away from green nymphs who were sent to this world to get us, and I spent my evenings looking for the hidden secret door in my house that would lead me home.

My best friend Nicalee and I spent summer days pretending to be orphans running away from Ms. Minchin, the evil orphanage director.

(My love and respect 0 the late, great Shirley Temple.)

My imaginary adventures seemed to share the same theme: I was always a girl who, despite ,my best intentions, fell into misfortune. And when all hope seemed to be lost, I would realize that I was more than just a girl, I was the daughter of a king, I was the inheritor of a fortune, or I was the Bionic Woman (that was a fun one). Then, armed with the knowledge of who I really was, my “true identity”, I found the strength and will to overcome.

I always longed to be something more than I was, do something more than I did, be someone more than I was. Then I grew up, and I still had that longing -- to be something more than I am, do something more that I am doing, and be someone more than I am.

But, I can't think that desire is only mine. We are wired to grow- not just physically, but in all respects. It is ingrained into our souls to progress, to reach for more, to do more, to be more. 

When we are young, our limited ability to comprehend our eternal nature is compensated (or perhaps manifested) by childhood imaginings of princesses and dragons. As we grow up, the same desire is there- to be more than who we are. But as we mature, imagination is replaced by pragmatic views, and we find ourselves, at times, feeling unsettled and unfulfilled in life.

I think the reason for those feelings of discontent is that we truly are more that we seem to be here; and there is more to life than life than what we can see- but we just don't fully know it, understand it, or believe it.

 It is as difficult to find a woman who is completely satisfied with herself as it is to find a parking space at the mall on Black Friday. There are a few out there- but they are a real find. Most of us are quite adept at finding and acknowledging perceived flaws, downplaying our strengths and feeling like we aren't enough.

Well, enough with that rubbish!

We are more than we realize we are.

We are more than Pinterest pinners, laundry cleaners, career women, writers, runners, etc. We are more than just imperfect, fallen people bumping into each other in a world full of sadness and pain and joy. 

We are sons and daughters of Deity, with a Divine lineage and a Divine inheritance.

We are more than the knights we imagined when we are young;  we are armed with the shield of faith, and the armor of God, as described by the Apostle Paul. 

We are more than the magicians that used to amaze us with their card tricks; through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can have the miracle of forgiveness and healing.

We are more than children playing tag in the front yard; we are valiant disciples dodging the fiery darts of the Adversary.

Imagine that! All the things I longed for as a child are true!

I thought I was just a girl. Now I know my true identity- the daughter of God, my Heavenly Father.

I am the inheritor of an eternal fortune.

I am more that what I appear to be. 

And so are you.

And armed with that knowledge, we can find the strength and the will to overcome whatever this world has to throw at us. 

We are more than just us. We are His.

Imagine that.