Call it what it is.

Sometimes the truth smacks you in the face and takes a moment to settle in.

Ever had someone say something that challenged your norm. Something that, at first, lit you on fire but on second thought caused you to reshape the way you think about something. 

Happened to me this week. Seemingly simple moment that left a big impact.

Sitting at dinner, I can't even remember how the conversation came about, I said something to the effect:

"Every once in a while a girl just needs a good, ugly cry."

To which I got a perplexed, "I have never heard that before"

I must have seemed just as puzzled. "You know... mascara smeared, snot all across the face, heaves, seemingly unreasonable...  A good, ugly cry." (all my girls feel me on this)

"Yeah I know what you are talking about but I would never call it that. I believe it is important to call things what they really are. Words carry weight and ugly is not what is going on there..."

WOOWA watch it... in the moment it stirred me up (I thought what do you know). So in my most spirited fashion I replied "Well, I will still have a good, UGLY cry from time to time!"

We chuckled and moved on in conversation.

But for days this conversation has haunted me...

How many times as women do we mislabel what is at the core just because it is seen as weak, undesirable or simply misunderstood. Things are not always as they appear on the surface. Your words matter. And your emotions as a woman are not ugly. So the next time you go to have a good cry... call it what it is... it may be sloppy, snotty, smeary and uncontrolled... but it is not ugly.

1000 Monday Mornings.

“The cross comes before the crown and tomorrow is a Monday morning!”

~ CS Lewis

So I approached my quiet time this morning looking for answers to some hard, heart aching questions... And BAM! This is what I read... "Give up the illusion that you deserve a problem free life." I had to laugh out loud at myself! We read verses like John 15 and cling to the promise that if we abide we will bear fruit ... Which we will! But let's be clear on what that fruit is. Galatians 5 says the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. In our society we have a tendency to think that bearing fruit means an "easy" life with the perfect family, a great job, no financial problems...  you know the Instagram perfect life. All aspirations that are not bad. But that is not what we are promised. However, we are promised that we will have peace that transcends all understanding, joy that is our strength and that we will never walk alone!! In the words of my dear friend and mentor Sheila Atchley (http://www.sheilaatchleydesigns.com)... your life and legacy are built on 1000 Monday Mornings. Here is to a new week working through ‪#‎1000mondays‬.