There’s a sacred place inside each of us—untouched by trauma, hardship, or fear. It’s the part of us that once ran barefoot through fields, dreamed without limits, and laughed without reason. It’s our childlike spirit. In A Child’s Spirit: Overcoming Trauma Through Faith, Shelly-Ann Smith reminds us that healing doesn’t always require becoming someone new—it begins with remembering who we were before the pain.
Shelly’s story, from her early life in Jamaica to her immigration journey in the United States, is a beautiful and raw testament to the strength we carry from childhood. Through trials of abuse, abandonment, and immense responsibility at a young age, she held on to the freedom, imagination, and hope that once defined her early years. That childlike spirit didn’t disappear—it became her compass.
The Power of Childhood Freedom
Childhood freedom isn’t about carelessness or ignorance. It’s about being unburdened by shame, open to possibility, and deeply in tune with joy. In our earliest years, before trauma took hold, we explored life with wonder. We trusted. We believed. We felt deeply. And in that raw authenticity lies the secret to healing.
In her memoir, Shelly brings readers back to those pure moments. Climbing trees. Dreaming without fear. Creating joy with almost nothing. These memories were not just nostalgic—they were sacred reminders of who she truly was before life tried to redefine her.
And the truth is—you can return there, too.
Your Inner Child Still Lives Within You
Healing often begins not by escaping your past but by reconnecting with the part of yourself that existed before the pain. The spirit within you—the one that knows how to laugh, imagine, dance, and love unconditionally—is still there. It may be quiet, but it’s not gone.
Shelly’s journey shows that even in adulthood, that childlike freedom can still be a guide. It can help us:
- Feel without judgment
- Create without fear
- Believe in a future that looks different from the past
- Let go of shame and reconnect with self-compassion
Faith, Freedom, and the Road to Healing
In A Child’s Spirit, faith is the bridge between trauma and healing. Shelly didn’t walk through her journey alone—she leaned on her faith to remember the power and purity of her inner child. She trusted that God had planted that spirit in her for a reason, and that it could be the key to not only surviving, but thriving.
You don’t need to be perfect to start healing. You simply need to pause, remember, and listen to the version of you who once believed in joy.
Let the Spirit Guide You
Today, take a moment. Close your eyes. Think back to a time you felt free. Let that memory wrap around you. That child within you didn’t vanish—they’ve been waiting for you to come home.
Explore the spirit within. Reconnect with the freedom you once had. Let it lead you to the healing and peace you deserve.