The beauty, however, is what makes the mess worth while. Purposed. Delicate and terrifying all in the same. It is the support and encouragement of family and friends. The ability to laugh in the middle of sorrow. The determination hope instills. The grace God gives to learn of and lean on him. The revelation at the end of the day that God brought you through what you thought impossible. And most overarching, the love that I feel walking with me on a path I've never traveled and a road he's already ventured upon.
Sometimes the rain from a storm can be the most refreshing time of your life. The sweet smell of the water. The bigger the drops, the more it washes away. In the rain, when you've decided to stand in it without reserve, you don't worry about mediocre things. The stress of making sure your hair and makeup are done. The worry of wearing the finest fabrics. The itch to run for cover. The care of others watching. Beauty can happen in the rain. Be born, refined and exposed clearly through the torrential weather.
It is there, where your vision is most blurred, God meets you.
He wipes away every tear, washes away every stain, and nourishes your heart and soul with his water, the Living Water. Isaiah 44:3 says:
"For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and
to irrigate your parched fields.
And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants,
and my blessing on your children."
Such sweet words in a time when you may feel you have nothing left. A desert. A drying river. A cropless field. Take heart, oh my soul and know that God will rain down and water my fields, restore the rivers in my heart and allow the fruit of my labor to be more than enough for the generations after me. In this moment, standing in the rain, I lift my eyes toward you and allow your rain to wash all that is not of you, away. I may look completely uncouth to the eye, hair soggy, clothes drenched and mascara running but as ugly as my appearance may look on the outside, something beautiful is taking place on the inside. For my dear sister, who I mentioned in the beginning, this is what I meant when I said you were, we are...
Beautifully Ugly
12 comments:
okay I know it wasn't humorous but I was initially thinking about who this was directed toward and it made me chuckle. Anyway, 2 things came to mind when I read this passage... well maybe 3 (none of my own words... well... okay 4):
1. I just read this C.S. Lewis tweet right before reading this, "We must lay before Him what is in us, not what ought to be in us." I thought that was slick!
2. There's a verse I read in Romans earlier this week that is on my desk - it's Rom. 15:13... I won't write all of it out.
3. Another verse, Deut. 7:21-23 is kind of my life verse right now.
4. Ever notice how when we get stuck in the rain we get most upset that the things we've put on ourselves are getting ruined. Our clothes, our hair that we spent so much time on, the shoes we just bought, the car we JUST washed... everything that makes us "presentable" has come undone because of the storm. We don't think about the things within us, that are being built up as a result of that storm: patience to endure the traffic jams, endurance to fight past grogginess and the desire to go back to bed, persistence to get things done, despite the weather. You nailed it, in storms our character is being fortified and they will keep coming testing us in one area, "Will we get up and go by faith, or go back to bed by habit/fear/reluctance."
P.S. I hope this a long enough diatribe for you!
Yeah, lol, I was wondering if you'd pick it up!
1. Wow! that quote...I'll have to steal that one. It says so much...
2. I look forward to having an overflow of hope.
3. That gives me a sigh of relief. I will not be overtaken but they will be delivered over to me...
4. "everything that makes us 'presentable' has come undone because of the storm" - This hit to my heart. What we try to present is the best of who we are and not the whole of we we are. That is when it is easiest to lose yourself...
P.S. Girl what I tell you about throwing those words at me?!
P.S.S. Yes it was...Thanks!
*sigh* I suppose I was "on" today
:o)
that is the air of indifference you see... or something like that
What is with all the sighing? lol...
hahahhahaaaa! WHAT?! hahhahahahaaa!
hey istn't that the pic rod took of you when we were in new york on the way to ellis island?
@RedSings YUP! Isn't it great!
yes, lol! it is awesome! :o)
Wow, all I can say is profound….looks like I will be following these from here on out, I had no idea you blogged. What you are speaking is all to familiar, deep, but necessary, the world need to see it, hear it, read it, because in all truth we are all “it”!
Love you and love the blog
Nekeida
Thanks Keida! Love you mucho too! yeah i love to blog and i finally got back on it!
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