Yesterday was another big Basketball day for us..4 games and LOTS of sitting in bleachers. It’s a fun time to socialize and support our children and their teammates. It’s also a great time to have fellowship with other families. We have been with the same families for years now..so you get to know each other pretty well..Although we don’t really hang with the “in” crowd too much..meaning we are old and we don’t “party” they love us and we love them dearly..LOL
We are a pretty transparent family..we’ve always found that transparency is the perfect solution for being imperfect…
I was sharing with one of the Moms the struggles we have had lately with our new coach this season…you see my daughter has always been a starter but this season is different for lots of different reasons..I won’t go into them because they don’t really have anything to do with my point…Anyway…
I was telling this Mom, that has known us for years, how we were becoming bitter and how we had started a habit of complaining to one another after practices and games. I shared with her how it was beginning to depress us and how my daughter was so discouraged…which of course was heartbreaking to us.
And then I told her how God had spoken to our hearts about our attitudes and our bitterness and how we needed to repent and forgive…and how my husband, myself and our daughter had prayed about this and were doing soooo much better since God had given us all a new heart attitude…I didn’t really think much about my sharing..so I was surprised when…
She looked at me and was in shock…she said “you know, I can’t tell you how much better I feel because we have been going through the same thing! I mean if YOU GUYS are struggling with this then it must be ok that we are! I mean you guys are so Godly!”
What?! Wait a minute here..now it was “I” that was shocked!
Do you ever wonder how others see you? I was really surprised that this gal said this too me…I mean c’mon it’s me! LOL It really made me look to the Lord and remember that we are His ambassadors in this thing called life. Those of us that call ourselves “Christians” should not leave people wondering about our struggles and lead them to believe that we have none. That we somehow lead a perfect life without struggles just as anyone else. I mean how will people know just how real God is, how much He loves them… if we are pretending that we are perfect…God didn’t come for the perfect..He came for the imperfect…uuummm I’m good at that!
I’m one of the lucky ones..through some really hard lessons, I learned long ago that I MUST be who God has created me to be..because I’ve tried to be what others have wanted and this leads to legalism and works..not good.
So in light of being transparent, I hope you will never see me as having a perfect life with perfect children, doing perfect crafts and being a gourmet cook (well maybe the cooking part..LOL) …
We don’t have to share every little thing that’s going on in our lives..but I have truly found that transparency is truly the perfect solution for being imperfect.
Sooo how about you? Do you share your lives and struggles with others?
Clever Colleen says
Awesome reminder Shari! We are not called to be perfect – and we can thank God for that! I love to quote the little blurb I heard Chip Ingram say in one of his studies – “Failure is never final with God”
I love that that friend of yours sees your testimony – just by you being you. Praise God.
Shari Lynne says
Hi Colleen! Thanks for stopping by! Yes I find it quite humbling that God uses us in so many ways..just for being who he created us to be…certainly not perfect for sure! 😀
Blessings to you!
Ugochi says
Talk to me Shari!
Some tell me I share too much of my “imperfections” but I always knew God would use it to help someone, He has proven it time and again. God does not love only the perfect (if there is any), He love His imperfect children who look to and lean on Him for His strength. This encourages me a lot Shari, thanks for putting it up.
Have a super blessed day!
Shari Lynne says
Hello friend! I am so glad that this encouraged you Ugochi! I know I have gotten caught in the perfectionism trap and it just simply turns ugly..over the years I’ve learned just to be me..sinful self and all..I mean we need a saviour right!? LOL Blessings to you sweet Ugochi..keep on being who God created you to be!!