Being Real

I remember when my husband and I were dating.
I thought it would be romantic to take a walk in the rain.
Light rain, moonlight, and two sharing an umbrella would make the perfect evening.
Perhaps.

Not quite so perfect because I was wearing suede moccasins.
Moccasins get saturated very quickly.
They got saturated quickly and turned my skin brown from the dye that was used.
I got home; kicked off my shoes and found that I was still wearing the outline of my shoes.

I remember missing my eighth grade class picnic.
I missed it because I had terrible sunburn.
I had terrible sunburn because I wanted to get a little color on my very fair skin.
A little color that became sun poison as my blistering shoulders could attest.

Maybe it was the baby oil we all used to pour on ourselves before we sat in the sun.
Maybe it was falling asleep with a good book in the warmth of the rays.
A friend’s mother was a nurse and told my mother to put hot tea bags on my puffy eyes.
Fine home remedy that actually worked, except my fingers were tea stained for a week.

I never knew to put plastic sandwich bags on my hands first.
I never knew the home remedy would stain my skin.
How I wished that white gloves were in style like when I was a little girl.
Then I could have covered my stained hands stylishly.

You know when you look good and the outfit is just right?
You walk the walk across the parking lot announcing to the world, Here she comes!
That is the exact moment I tripped.
I don’t even know what I tripped on; it could have been a pebble for all I know.

I tripped and fell, skinned my knee, and hurt my pride.
I could hear the imaginary announcer in my head.
Look out world! Here she comes!
Oh, no! She’s down! Skin abrasion! Better get that knee looked at!

Isn’t that always the way?
We are full of ourselves, even in the little things.
We are full of ourselves until something stops us and wakes us up.

Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)

We could all fill in the blanks.
We have all had something stuck in our teeth as we talk to someone.
We have all noticed the wayward leaf in our hair moments after the picture was taken.
We have all yawned a big yawn when a demure behind the hand yawn is more acceptable.

We have all danced in our kitchen until someone walks in on us.
We have all sung in the shower, not thinking anyone is within earshot.
We have all parallel parked and noticed the curb is much further away than we thought.
We have all asked about an item only to have the size announced to everyone in the store.

Embarrassing moments.
Moments that make you cringe at the time.
Moments that are gifts in disguise.

We think of ourselves too highly.
We think of ourselves too much.
We care what other people think, even when we say we don’t.
We have an image to uphold.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you…Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay evil with evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone…do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:3,9-18,21)

God’s Word will keep us busy, if we truly follow it.
We will be so busy being “other-centered” we won’t have time to think about ourselves.
That is a good thing.
It is good to think of others first.

We won’t have time to worry about the embarrassing things that happen to us.
They will be a source of laughter at our own expense.
We will be the ones laughing the hardest.
They will be talking points, sharing points, areas of commonality.

They will remind us and everyone else that we are human.
We are flawed.
We all make mistakes.

We are loved more than we could ever imagine.
We are more special than we ever believed.
Even in our most embarrassing moments, we are still made in His image.

That’s nothing to laugh at!
That’s something to celebrate!
Be human before others.
Be approachable.

That is how they will see Him best in you.
Your genuineness will be very attractive.
None of us have it all together.
If we did, we would be God!

Be real!
That will allow others to be real around you.
You can’t imagine how free-ing it is to take off the mask.

Laugh!
We really are a funny, peculiar people that God created.
God does have a wonderful sense of humor.