I am just like you, we are both called on to be brave and unshaken by things deemed small and great alike. We wonder why we struggle with things others don't get bothered by in the slightest way. We fail to come out about things affecting us. "It's not a big deal", "its not worth sharing", we think. "Maybe they just won't understand". Sometimes we are simply ashamed for feeling a certain way or having done certain things.
Well I too fit that description, just like you, I am not that strong.
Last week or so I finished reading one biography and jumped on to another. Clearly I can't get enough of the 'behind the scenes' as I'd like to call them.
I'm currently reading the biography of Melaine Brown in her book, Brutally honest.
She comes out about her heritage, her ordeal of having been in an abusive relationship, the shame she felt causing her not to talk about it, being forced to stay because of circumstances, her relationship with drugs as a result and on and on it goes. And I'm not even half way through it yet!
The previous biography I just finished was of and by Gabrielle Union.
She on the other hand talks about her upbringing and how it shaped her;
The insecurities, the cover-ups, the unforeseen circumstances,...
Highlighted are her defining moments seasoned with challenges and triumphs.
These two are women I've grown up watching on general film. I wouldn't call them my role models but in my opinion these were strong people. I never doubted that but In clear black and white they themselves say, " we too are not that strong."
There are so many people we interact with on the surface daily who have gone through and still go through things we can not fathom.
In my chats with those whose stories I'm privileged to have heard. I'm deeply moved by tales of where they are from and what they have been through.There is alot that goes into who people are today, shaped by their experiences.
Actually, what prompted me to write on this was a book review on 'faithful', a book by Kim Cash Tate, done by Crown your mane on YouTube.
Well not to spoil the book which even I haven't read yet, a character in the book deemed so good and righteous falls into sexual sin of which no one saw coming.
*By the way this isn't the focus of the book.
We all know problems, temptations and hardships are real and inevitable. Despite this we have profiled people and set expectations that they just have to meet in our books.
Don't get me wrong we should be accountable and not justify our falls with being 'human'. The contrary isn't the message I'm sending across just because everyone is bound to fall at some point.
With these profiles we all subconsciously carry, we leave each other feeling trapped and breed hypocrisy. Merely keeping up so we don't look bad. On the outside looking in you're stable but inside is a frail being crying out for help because you too are not that strong.
Our tough guy profiles aren't really a true reflection of what we feel inside and soon enough the facade comes crumbling.
Everyday we stumble upon signs and the shadows cast by the challenges those around us face. We brush them off as 'A' will be alright... 'A' is strong.
We've really been fooled by the happy photos on social media that we can't sense the desperate crys for help screaming through shared posts, statements passed, change in behaviour, ...
Literally Melaine and Gabrielle still showed up despite their own issues.
You wouldn't know one attempted suicide twice and the other found out her fiánce at the time was cheating just after sending out the invitations.
But we see the smiles and assume it is well.
Take keen interest in knowing those around you with whom you relate. I say so because there are always quiet screams. This simply is acting strange and a change in behaviour when you don't feel yourself. This should atleast raise an eyebrow in those who know you.
Be in a habit of checking up on your pals and even praying for people whether or not you know what's going on with them. Be very intentional when conversating besides the small chat. There are so many silent battles we each face that we may not be able to speak up about.
"We make ourselves feel ashamed of so many
things, and the silence and the secrecy just add to our burdens.
It’s hard – when you are proud, when you are frightened, when there are expectations on you to not rock the boat – but we need to be able to say, ‘I’m in
trouble. I need help."
-Melaine Brown-
Speak out if you are going through something. Though silence feels ideal and resorting to drugs to numb the pain, cutting, suicide,...
It's not worth it.
Sometimes your friends wouldn't come out to you because of how you talk about certain issues generally.
What's bugging the person may be brought up in general conversations.
Just an extra caution in handling conversations because no one wants to feel judged regardless of the circumstance.
There is hope however;
"I'm so grateful the Bible doesn't hide the failures of those who were used in mighty ways. The people God chose struggled with sin and the hardships of life and yet even through their imperfections our mighty God did amazing things."
-??-
I couldn't put a finger on who the author is but as always the Bible has the best advice. Besides there is nothing new under the sun.
It is in line with the quote that I think of David, the man after God's own heart. Paul who went on to write most of the books in New Testament. These two men were no exception of imperfection yet they were used mightly by God.
"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
1 Corinthians 10:13
If I'm honest we all need love and more grace daily.
Count your blessings and remember you can handle what you're going through.
On your own you are not strong, but you're not alone, He is close. We can then have hope to see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Thank you for reading and reaching this far. Hoping everyone is staying safe. Take care, do share and lastly my most recent watercolour painting below. Until the next post✌
Well I too fit that description, just like you, I am not that strong.
Last week or so I finished reading one biography and jumped on to another. Clearly I can't get enough of the 'behind the scenes' as I'd like to call them.
I'm currently reading the biography of Melaine Brown in her book, Brutally honest.
She comes out about her heritage, her ordeal of having been in an abusive relationship, the shame she felt causing her not to talk about it, being forced to stay because of circumstances, her relationship with drugs as a result and on and on it goes. And I'm not even half way through it yet!
The previous biography I just finished was of and by Gabrielle Union.
She on the other hand talks about her upbringing and how it shaped her;
The insecurities, the cover-ups, the unforeseen circumstances,...
Highlighted are her defining moments seasoned with challenges and triumphs.
These two are women I've grown up watching on general film. I wouldn't call them my role models but in my opinion these were strong people. I never doubted that but In clear black and white they themselves say, " we too are not that strong."
There are so many people we interact with on the surface daily who have gone through and still go through things we can not fathom.
In my chats with those whose stories I'm privileged to have heard. I'm deeply moved by tales of where they are from and what they have been through.There is alot that goes into who people are today, shaped by their experiences.
Actually, what prompted me to write on this was a book review on 'faithful', a book by Kim Cash Tate, done by Crown your mane on YouTube.
Well not to spoil the book which even I haven't read yet, a character in the book deemed so good and righteous falls into sexual sin of which no one saw coming.
*By the way this isn't the focus of the book.
We all know problems, temptations and hardships are real and inevitable. Despite this we have profiled people and set expectations that they just have to meet in our books.
Don't get me wrong we should be accountable and not justify our falls with being 'human'. The contrary isn't the message I'm sending across just because everyone is bound to fall at some point.
With these profiles we all subconsciously carry, we leave each other feeling trapped and breed hypocrisy. Merely keeping up so we don't look bad. On the outside looking in you're stable but inside is a frail being crying out for help because you too are not that strong.
Our tough guy profiles aren't really a true reflection of what we feel inside and soon enough the facade comes crumbling.
Everyday we stumble upon signs and the shadows cast by the challenges those around us face. We brush them off as 'A' will be alright... 'A' is strong.
We've really been fooled by the happy photos on social media that we can't sense the desperate crys for help screaming through shared posts, statements passed, change in behaviour, ...
Literally Melaine and Gabrielle still showed up despite their own issues.
You wouldn't know one attempted suicide twice and the other found out her fiánce at the time was cheating just after sending out the invitations.
But we see the smiles and assume it is well.
Take keen interest in knowing those around you with whom you relate. I say so because there are always quiet screams. This simply is acting strange and a change in behaviour when you don't feel yourself. This should atleast raise an eyebrow in those who know you.
Be in a habit of checking up on your pals and even praying for people whether or not you know what's going on with them. Be very intentional when conversating besides the small chat. There are so many silent battles we each face that we may not be able to speak up about.
"We make ourselves feel ashamed of so many
things, and the silence and the secrecy just add to our burdens.
It’s hard – when you are proud, when you are frightened, when there are expectations on you to not rock the boat – but we need to be able to say, ‘I’m in
trouble. I need help."
-Melaine Brown-
Speak out if you are going through something. Though silence feels ideal and resorting to drugs to numb the pain, cutting, suicide,...
It's not worth it.
Sometimes your friends wouldn't come out to you because of how you talk about certain issues generally.
What's bugging the person may be brought up in general conversations.
Just an extra caution in handling conversations because no one wants to feel judged regardless of the circumstance.
There is hope however;
"I'm so grateful the Bible doesn't hide the failures of those who were used in mighty ways. The people God chose struggled with sin and the hardships of life and yet even through their imperfections our mighty God did amazing things."
-??-
I couldn't put a finger on who the author is but as always the Bible has the best advice. Besides there is nothing new under the sun.
It is in line with the quote that I think of David, the man after God's own heart. Paul who went on to write most of the books in New Testament. These two men were no exception of imperfection yet they were used mightly by God.
"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
1 Corinthians 10:13
If I'm honest we all need love and more grace daily.
Count your blessings and remember you can handle what you're going through.
On your own you are not strong, but you're not alone, He is close. We can then have hope to see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Thank you for reading and reaching this far. Hoping everyone is staying safe. Take care, do share and lastly my most recent watercolour painting below. Until the next post✌
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI love the warmth and understanding sentiments under this blog post, the world can be a wretched,horrid place that we resort to being isolated, but we forget that we are not an island but rather a peninsula.
DeleteThank you,I'm glad you enjoyed the post😊🙏.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comment aswell💃💃.