*It is okay to have cruddy days and say so when people ask how I am doing--the plastic,painted-on smile is not healthy
*It is honorable to share my struggles with others -- so they can help and pray for me, and so I can in turn encourage people who are where I have been in the past
*God wants me to be transparent -- how can I be a good witness to His power if I don't show others how far He has carried me?
*That being honest DOES NOT mean I have the right to be a complainer or Debbie Downer
*I can pour out my heart to God and He listens
*That my friendships are deeper because they know the real me- good and bad
*My husband appreciates me being real and loves me for it
* I can be honest in a loving way
*The best way I can model honesty for my children is to live it every day
*Being real is allowing God to work through me--- asking Him to wash away the dull residue that accumulates on me and allow His glory to shine through me.
* I am free to be who God created me to be because of Jesus- Hallelujah!
These lyrics from "Free to Be Me" by Francesca Batestelli really hit home the freedom we have in Christ:
"I've got a couple dents in my fender, gotta couple rips on my jeans. Try to put the pieces together, but perfection is my enemy. On my own I'm so clumsy, but on your shoulders I can see, I'm free to be me."
The Lord says in 2nd Corinthians 12:9-10, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
And finally, since I am being entirely transparent to you, my blogging friends......I have to end on a light note...
I am currently composing this post wearing my daughter's hot pink Snuggie, which I vowed I would NEVER EVER own, and I have never been more cozy in my life!!!
How's that for some honesty!!! I am free to be my Snuggie-wearing self! No shame for me! Not one bit!
I needed to hear all of these things. And I am jealous of your (I do mean Caroline's) snuggie. I am hoping the jolly old fellow brings me one of those in December!
ReplyDeleteI, too, have vowed to never wear a Snuggie. Kudos to you for doing it... you're a strong woman! ... or not so strong, depends how you look at it!! LOL :)
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to try one secretly!! :) I didn't know they had kids sizes?!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I loved the rest of your post. I really struggle with that too. I just finished reading a book on that subject that was really good. It's by Sheila Walsh and I'll pass it on.
Loved this post. It seemed to go along with what we were talking about at Bible study last night too. We are totally free and I needed this reminder. Thanks siesta! Love ya
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