You are a Child of God

I recently came across the following quote by Marianne Williamson while reading this post from Button Bird Designs (a very cute blog to read if you are into crafty re-purposing projects). I had not even heard of her before, but now I am looking forward to reading her books because I am sure they are jam packed with inspirational gems like this:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

(A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles", Harper Collins, 1992. From Chapter 7, Section 3])

I can only hope to live in such a way as to teach these wonderful ideas to my children!