I’m not one for amusement rides, especially roller coasters, but I bring the kids to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and release them go have fun. I wait! As I sit here in the shade where the breeze is cool I’m watching multitudes of people walking by. As I’ve been observing these people, I see all different sizes, shapes, color, short hair, long hair, man-buns, no buns, braids, pony-tails, shaved heads etc. and there isn’t a one of them that look anything alike. The differences I see in people is absolutely stunning. As I think about it even deeper, I think of how different each person sees the world, sees their world, their family, and how they see themselves. How they see their circumstances and finances and more. Each one is so specific in how they look, see, feel, touch and communicate. More on this later.
Recently we’ve been involved in a situation that we innocently stepped into, but little did we know the mess we would end up being in. We loaned our small car we tow behind our RV, when we need to, to a single mother of 10. Her car happened to break down the final day she was helping me with a project. We told her she could drive our car for the next couple of weeks because we weren’t in dire need of it. Told her she could use it until a specific date. Long story short, the car ended up getting stolen and then finally returned and we gave the offer to buy her a decent car that she would be able to depend on. After much conversation she agreed. The plan was to meet and buy this specific car. She never showed up. Now, there are a lot more details to this story that I am not sharing, but after lots of back and forth, and her changing stories, nothing seemed to match up over this whole time. BUT, we still pursued, wanting to bless her and her kids. Unfortunately, the favor of heaven that was on us to bless her and her family was not received.
I have been troubled by this and wondered why a single mother in need would avoid, turn away, lie and just about steal to keep her from receiving a blessing. What was keeping her from this? It reminded me of my childhood, where my mother was a single mom, 7 kids in tow and refused to accept any help such as food stamps (back then) and never wanted to ask for help from anyone. I was starting to get a bit irritated and offended at the lack of gratefulness and acceptance of our gift to her. I was kind of stewing on this and it dawned on me that she was under the influence of so much shame and guilt that she couldn’t even recognize the gift that was being given to her. She’s been wracked with guilt and shame because of her past and her present situation. Needless to say, I repented.
It made me wonder how many of us walk around with such guilt, condemnation and shame over us? How often do we allow what we carry to keep us from accepting the many gifts that God has…just for us?? Our self-perception is tainted, warped and twisted when we don’t see ourselves as God sees us. We find ourselves to be unworthy, carrying false humility and full of pride.
So, back to the differences in people. Bottom line is, we are all so different on the outside, but so much the same inside. We are all carrying “stuff”, no matter if we have the most expensive clothes and the biggest house and an expensive car. Even if we are living in the gutter with nothing, we all have something we are allowing to have power within us that keeps us from stepping into all that God wants to bless us with. God desires to lavish Himself upon us in a multitude of ways.
My question to all of reading this: What do you carry that is keeping you from stepping into the freedom and liberty that is available, so you can receive the countless blessings of Heaven? Come as you are to God and allow Him to take the burden of guilt, condemnation, shame, fear, and pride from your life. There is so much more for you in God. You know why? Because…
YOU ARE WORTH EVERYTHING HE IS AND GIVES because you came from HIM! HE created you! HE loves you!
Blessings,
Veronica
Freely Authentic 