The Greatest Showman has been such a big hit. When I allow our daughter to have friends stay the night, they put on the “greatest” show as they sing the songs from the movie word for word. Joy fills our home as I watch them giggle and laugh as they act out each part and jump off our furniture.

My mind wanders to the elephants in the movie and how it relates to not only the brave moms we see here at the Pregnancy Resource Center but people everywhere that are held back from enjoying life by the lies we tell ourselves. When I watch my daughter and her friend's dance and sing so carefree; I ask when will they will be held back from the dreams that are in their hearts and minds. Let’s see how the lies we tell ourselves or spoken over us relates to the interesting story of how they train baby elephants for the circus.

To train the baby elephants they take them when they are still small and tie a strong rope around their necks and attach the rope to a secure pole. The baby elephants naturally try to walk away but the rope holds them back. They pull and push and twist and turn and eventually learn that they just aren’t strong enough to break free of their shackles, so they stop resisting and just stay where they are.

Let’s just stop right there for a moment. Back in the summer, I asked on my personal Facebook page if friends would comment about one lie they believe about themselves. I had many comments that I am sure if I asked them again would say that those lies held them back at some point in their lives or maybe they still do. Be encouraged today by the story of the elephants and how the greatest show in life is to realize who you are and that you are capable of great things.

Now back to the point of the elephants. The next time they tie up the baby elephants they try to break free once again, pulling on the rope to see if they can go free. When they figure out that once again it is impossible, they stop pulling and settle down and stay where they are.

The same thing happens again and again until eventually when the rope is placed over their heads, they no longer try to break free because they know it is impossible. That is why in captivity you can walk by a circus and see giant elephants standing passively with a rope tied around their necks that isn’t attached to anything at all.

The elephant becomes so used to being held back by the rope, that merely the rope itself keeps the animal in check. If only they knew how powerful they are. If only they realized that by the time they have grown up, even a rope “secured” to a pole can no longer contain them. Then they would know what true freedom is. But they don’t.

Are you being held back by the lies that you have believed?

“You cannot do this.”

“You cannot afford to have a baby.”

“You will be so alone.”

“You have no friends.”

“I am ugly.”

STOP! When you whisper those lies to yourself…STOP! Are you secured to a pole that you cannot break free from? Here at the Pregnancy Resource Center, we hear the lies that have been told to these precious families. They have been held in captivity in their mind and believed that they cannot carry out something so great. Beaten down and accustomed to every lie, like the elephants, they simply couldn’t see it right before their eyes.

Literally, their eyes were those of no hope — cast upon the ground, avoiding eye contact, unassertive, without real vision. Believing these words for so long they simply could not imagine anything better, bolder, brighter, bigger for their lives. They lost the ability to dream, to visualize their lives as free men and women, to embrace a bold vision of a better life and a better them.

Looking in the mirror of where they are with a little one on the way and think, “How did this happen.” I have messed up again. I know this because I thought this myself as a teen and pregnant. What I didn’t realize at the time was this was an opportunity for great things ahead. New life for me and my sweet girl on the way!

What can we learn about this captive elephant? We can look at the situations we are in and no longer believe the lies on who we aren’t and the rope that is holding us back. Our mentorship programs are like mini breakthrough sessions when moms and dads are able to look ahead of a greater vision for their life. They can finally break free and walk boldly in who they are.

The chains and ropes with which we are held are mostly in our minds and not around our ankles. Freedom is ours to take, hope is ours to embrace, and meaning and purpose in life are ours to envision at any moment in our lives. We get to see the greatest show when we watch brave moms and dads realize this freedom for the first time. That they can do this!