I had a conversation yesterday that was both humbling and a blessing.

There’s a wonderful girl that I know who is very misunderstood. She has no inhibitions about who she is or worries about the approval from others. She’s bluntly up-front and real with you about what’s going on in her life and the struggles she’s going through; anything from medical trouble and emergency surgery to life in general. I’m not 100% convinced that she realizes that’s not “the thing to do”; that saying something other than “good” or “fine ” to the “how are you?” question isn’t normal.

Sidenote: why is “How are you?” not truly a question? It’s just a greeting. We say it passing in hallways, to start off a conversation, or paired with the bro-nod – but we don’t really expect a real answer. Do we really want a real answer? Or is it just a superficial question so we can check caring off of our to-do list for the day?

So I talked with this young woman yesterday. I listened to her struggles and let her go on for a while. And then, she said something that startled me; for it made me realize that I had marginalized her. She profoundly stated that God had worked a miracle in her life and healed her, and that she was a testimony. “Maybe someday I’ll be able to lead someone to Christ with these testimonies”.

No “woe is me”, no griping, no comments of “my life is so horrible, why is this happening!”. No. None of that. A firm and steadfast belief that God is working in her life for a reason and so that she can be a witness. Despite the circumstances, despite whether she is accepted by people or not; she knows she’s loved and here for a reason.

She’s labeled, but doesn’t wear a mask. She’s misunderstood, but is secure in Him.

Speaking with her was a blessing. I felt like God allowed me to see a little piece of how He sees her. How precious she is, and how He smiles so much as she walks with Him. Her simple, up-front, childlike faith speaks volumes!

This conversation was humbling. It was a challenge. It made me ashamed of my own masks. Sure, I try to be real; or at least that’s what I say. But we all have masks; things that we hide behind – default to even – when life gets uncomfortable or difficult.

What would it be like if we truly ditched the masks? If we were willing to be real with people, even if it was difficult or meant potentially being hurt. Is it worth it? Is it worth it to you to remove the facade?

So this is it. Another step, another turning point in this Dying to Self: dying to masks. Dying to labels. No longer allowing them to define me, or hiding behind them. This doesn’t mean telling the whole world my struggles and hardships. But it does mean not being fake or masked. I want to be an open book – so that everyone around can bear witness to how God is working in my life. One step at a time, I want to get to the point where I no longer worry at all about what others think. I want Him to be first; to be ONLY; to be center. Not a part, but the whole.