Last week we went on our family vacation. We had so much fun. I told the girls at the beginning of the week that all I wanted was a family picture. As the week progressed, I began thinking about it and told Lauren that we could go to the beach and take a photo – no getting ready, no color coordinating – just being ourselves, and that’s what we did. We weren’t rushed, and we weren’t upset if a child wasn’t looking, if shoes were on the wrong feet, or if someone was out of place. We were being authentically us. We didn’t wear masks, and we didn’t sugarcoat anything. It was perfect. I love capturing snapshots of our true selves.
As I thought about the picture and gathering everyone around us, I said, “This is us, this is how we live.” At times, we are crazy, we are weird, and not what others consider normal. At times, we become frustrated, get angry, and things don’t always work out; we also struggle to understand the other person’s reasoning. Still, there are no other people I would rather be with.
I asked myself how I had gotten to this point in my life – being my authentic self?
It required a great deal of soul work, encompassing mind, body, and spirit, as well as understanding my hang-ups, which still get the best of me at times, aligning myself with Christ every day. Not defining myself by my flaws or what the world and social media say we should look like, act like, and be like. And by embracing who I am, surrendering who I was, and allowing Christ to transform me from the inside out.
When going to the bible to find someone who is their authentic real self of course you would probably more than likely choose Christ. He was open, honest, told the hard truth. Wept, cried, was stern, was empathetic. He got angry and was joyous.
But as I went deeper into thinking the one person who stood out to me as having found their true self through an encounter with Christ was the woman at the well. (Story found in John 4)
Jesus asked the Samaritan for a drink, which began the conversation. The woman was shocked because first was a Samaritan and Jews didn’t associate with Samaritans. Next, the woman was a woman, and in biblical times men didn’t often engage with other women. Additionally, the woman had to fetch water from this well because she was unable to be around others, as she had had many husbands and was now living with a man she wasn’t married to.
Jesus knew what he was doing. He didn’t care that she was a Samaritan. He knew she had several husbands, but He also knew HER TRUE SELF. He knew that when he offered her living water, her thirst would be quenched. He knew her and shared with her what he knew. He knew that she would believe. He knew she would have a revelation. He knew she would share with others.
The Samaritan woman became her true self because of Christ. She shared with many about Jesus. She didn’t worry about what others thought; she had a mission to share the message of Jesus. She was known as the first missionary, despite being a woman.
Jesus knows us. We don’t have to hide behind masks, we don’t have to get dressed up, we don’t have to go where people aren’t, we don’t have to use a certain well. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses and loves us just the same. He knows us and what our purpose is for Him.
So, this week, remember these things to have JOY, remind yourself “just be you” whatever that looks like, and
1. Show up for JESUS – Start your day in the Word.
2. Show up for OTHERS – Serve others, whether they are like you or not, whether they annoy you or you don’t understand them. That is what Jesus did; He showed up for EVERYONE.
3. Show up for YOU—You need to fill your cup before you can help fill others’ cups.
We will find JOY when we show up for Jesus, others, and ourselves.
As Father Mike says, you pray for me, I will pray for you.
Have a great week, Love to ALL! Cupcake
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