There was time in my life where I walked away from all I knew to be someone I wasn’t. I could’ve turned away and gone back to home base at anytime. But I didn’t!
I’ve often wondered why? I have questioned and second guessed myself for many years. I’ve played and replayed the scenarios of every choice in my head on repeat.
Rewind… play…. Rewind…. Play
I’ve been in counseling and therapy enough to have placed blame and forgive myself and others. Forgiveness does remove memories or triggers. Forgiveness doesn’t forget pain or pleasure. Forgiveness is a tool to help navigate the shame and guilt that caused me to hide.
I hid because my shame of who I’d become created the guilt of the choices I was making which resulted in me hiding from those I loved and those who loved me.
But after a while, something happened. Even in my shame, guilt, and hiding God gave me revelation.
He told me I could stop!
I didn’t have to be the person I was or was trying to be. No! I could stop! I could be something else. I could become who He said I was.
It wasn’t easy. It took time and patience with myself as I made mistakes and more mistakes trying to find my footing. But I found it. In Christ I learned to love the person He created. I learned to walk in the woman He called me to be. And I learned to forgive myself for hiding all those years ago.
He set me free!
I want to encourage you to look around. Recognize those around you who are hiding, filled with guilt and shame. Help them by loving them and telling them they are loved. Be available to them!
Listen! Listen! Listen!
No doubt about it they’ve made mistakes. They don’t need your judgement. They need your love. Love them well! Show them Jesus by the way you care for them and help them find their footing as they find their way out of darkness into the freedom of Christ.
Life with Charlotte! 