Let Me Be Myself

I organized my mix CD's the othe day (yes, I still use the CD player in my car). I found a mix CD treasure in the process. It's one that I accidently stole from a dear friend who had been given the CD by another friend who had thoughtfully and deliberately included songs about struggling through and triumphing over life's difficult journey.

The first song on the CD gets me. When I heard first heard it, I heard it as a cry from those outside of me. When I heard it tonight, I heard it as my cry to the world.

Oh God. May I grant permission and give encouragement to those around me to be themselves--to live into the persons you have created and called them to be and to shine their own unique lights in this world. May I never again stifle someone's spirit or, even with good intentions, try to force her into who I think she should be. Forgive my shortcomings and heal what's been broken in the past, and help me to be believe in, love, and support others like I pray they will believe in and support me. And God? Help me to be me.


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I guess I just got lost being someone else

I tried to kill the pain, nothing ever helped

I left myself behind somewhere along the way

Hoping to come back around to find myself someday



Lately I'm so tired of waiting for you

To say that it's okay



But tell me please, would you one time just let me be myself?

So I can shine with my own light,let me be myself

Would you let me be myself?



I'll never find my heart behind someone else

I'll never see the light of day living in this cell

It's time to make my way into the world I knew

And then take back all of these times that I gave into you



But lately I'm so tired of waiting for you

To say that it's okay

Tell me please, would you one time let me be myself?



So I can shine with my own light, let me be myself

For a while, if you don't mind, let me be myself

So I can shine with my own light, let me be myself!



That's all I've ever wanted from this worldIs to let me be me

Please would you one time let me be myself?



So I can shine with my own light, let me be myself

Please would you one time, let me be myself

So I can shine with my own light, let me be myself

For a while, if you don't mind, let me be myself

So I can shine with my own light, let me be myself!

Would you one time, ooh, let me be myself and let me be me?



--3 Doors Down



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6pvm9Dcjzo