Recently I was into a book of psychospiritual and made me think about this phrase we often hear, “Lalabas din ang tunay mong kulay.” Usually we say it when someone does something bad, as if their anger, selfishness, cruelty or worst behavior is finally revealing who they really are and there is something very sad about that. We sometimes speak as if our worst moments are the most authentic version of who we are and as if one mistake, one angry reaction, one failure, or one season of weakness finally reveals the “real” us. But that is not necessarily the truth. We can do something wrong without being a bad person with no hope. We can lose our patience without becoming cruel. We can have wounds, struggles, fears, and even ugly moments without those things defining our whole nature. We were made good. Not perfect, but good. We were created by God and for God, with a heart made to love, to give, to forgive, and to choose what is good. That goodness is not something we have to invent- it is something God has already placed within us. Sin and brokenness can distort that goodness, but they do not become our identity. So maybe instead of immediately saying, “Ayan, lumabas na ang tunay mong kulay,” we should sometimes ask, “What happened to this person? What wound, fear, or struggle is showing right now?” Because sometimes what comes out of us is not totally our truest self, perhaps it is simply the part of us that still needs healing and sometimes we are not aware of it. Maybe this is something we also need to remember about ourselves that we can be disappointed by how we acted without believing we are a terrible person. Taking responsibility for our mistakes without turning them into our identity. But this is not an excuse to tolerate or justify what is wrong. We are still called to recognize our mistakes, make amends, and try to choose better each time, knowing that grace does not excuse our wrongs- it gives us the courage to face them, learn from them, and change. Again, your worst moment is not the whole truth about you, God sees more in you than the version of yourself you are ashamed of. And perhaps becoming who we truly are is not about discovering something ugly hidden inside us, but allowing God to heal what has been wounded and bring back to light the goodness He placed in us from the beginning. ❤️ - @crizzzzza29