Ladies, in a New Year, there's new opportunity. Sometimes that would haunt me as a New Year would approach. For this "I'm a failure" mentality that I battle everyday, New Year translated, "Oh, great, another opportunity to not complete my goals." In all honesty, I don't look at it that way anymore. Part of the reason is choosing to surround myself with people, most of whom are women, that allow me to be me. We share the good, the bad, the joy, the junk of life and it's A-OK! There's more to life than being on the surface in all of your relationships. God's words shows us over and over to go deep and be REAL with people. There will be some that you come across in life that will put the STOP sign up to you being real and honest with them, but there are those rare finds that say, "Come on and tell me what's really in that heart and head of yours!" Many years ago...college, I think...we talked about the pat "Fine" answer to the "How are you?" You know, maybe that conversation was just a time passer, but for me, it rang true. Most people don't give a flip how you are. They ask, but please don't tell 'em how you really are because they are too busy, have problems of their own, think you are only supposed to put the happy face Christian on, and some can't take the burden of knowing how you really are. Today I read this devotional that I would love to see us ladies take to heart for the year 2010. You gotta start somewhere to show the world that we Christians can indeed be different...that if we are offering to get our hands dirty with the world's mess, we ought to be able to gets our hands dirty with our friend's mess. No one is asking you to go deep with every relationship you have, but be the friend to those in your life that doesn't attack their character when they are going through a rough time, or when they just need someone to listen to the junk they might face, or even to jump up and down in excitement and TRUE joy over someone's successes (rather than fume in jealousy). God has put you in the lives of people for a reason. Don't blow it. Now, read this and be the friend that you desire for others to be for you. What are you waiting for? Put yourself out there!
