Last weekend my mother and I went to a Be Still Get Real women’s seminar in Chattanooga. We had a wonderful time together and heard a very timely message. How often as women do we put on a show for our friends so they don’t know what a mess our lives really are? We hide some of the dark parts of our lives so they don’t know we don’t have a perfect life. When we put on the show for our friends then we are putting them in a position where they feel the pressure to live up to that lie and it goes on and on. We miss out on the opportunity to lift each other up and to see what God can do in our lives. The leaders of the conference also asked a poignant question about how much time it takes us to get ready each day. Then they asked how much time each day we are spending with our Heavenly Father. There was an overwhelming majority of women in the room admitting they spent more time primping than with the Father. It was good to see the honesty in the room instead of perpetuating the image of perfect women in perfect houses spending endless hours studying God’s word. I was encouraged to spend more time in prayer instead of embarrassed. That is just what we should be doing with each other…encouraging by being real.
Our children are watching us and learning from our example. I don’t want to teach them to have a life for show but to have a life that is real. A life that is humble and allows God to shine. One that shows the world we are a total mess without God and even a total mess with God while He is working in us. A life that is not pretending to be ripped from the pages of Better Homes & Gardens and a Beth Moore study, but one that glorifies God with all its bumps and bruises.

Isaiah 41:10 tells us, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” How can God help us if we are acting like we don’t need it? Our children are watching.