The Real Thing

You ever had something that's sugar-free? Or maybe even that no-calorie "natural" sweetener? Although people say they can't tell the difference, as soon as I bite into my favorite altered treat, I can always tell that something isn't quite right. 

The past few months have taught me that being kind to others is a lot like the difference between artificial sweeteners and sugar itself. Encouragement isn't something you plan. Being "nice" isn't a set time where everyone tells the person what they meant to them, but actions of genuine love are spontaneous events where we let a person know they're appreciated. That's why the author of Hebrews says, "Encourage each other every day while you have the opportunity." (Hebrews 3:13 GNT) 

And yet, it's still been hard for me. Today I realized that oftentimes my difficulty in praising and loving others has been driven by fear. I've decided that being kind to those around me gives them the power to hurt me and I must protect "me" at all costs. I'm not the only one. My social media is riddled with posts of hurting people giving up on love, taking care of themselves before everyone else, and not caring about anyone around them.

So what's the solution? 1 John 4:18 has some pretty interesting things to say, "There is no fear where love exists. Rather, perfect love banishes fear..." (1 John 4:18)  

The only way to truly face my fear head-on is to continue to love others more and more.*

(*By love I don't mean that wishy-washy stuff the world sells us about finding "the one". I mean the love  that allows us to forgive friends even when they don't deserve it, love that helps us be kind even when people aren't kind back, you're smart, you get the picture...) 

So today, if you're like me, let's stop living in the fear of the world around us, and instead love with all our hearts. Yes, being a "real sweetener" may take more hard work than a sugar substitute, we may even get rejected for being "too sweet" by those used to the artificial stuff, but authentic tops counterfeit any day. Let's be the real thing.

Dropping the Ball ⤵︎

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This is what the Lord says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken!

Jeremiah 9:23-24 NLT

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I'm a Junior in college and today I made my first B. I feel like I'm in an AA meeting, but seriously, that's my confession.

There, I said it. 

Granted there have been B's in the past, but they didn't count. They weren't on my transcript for the whole world to see. Yes, it was Chemistry, but I've always been able to pull out an A somehow. Until today.

For the past few weeks I've examined my heart closely, desperately trying to find what makes me want A's so badly. What's there to fear in getting less than a 90? Why do I push myself so hard, staying up late, saying no to fun activities, all for a grade and the highest one at that? What about A's confirm my confidence, my self esteem and even my self worth? When did I even come to define myself as a number? Aren't I so much more than a score? Which is why, although a bit bittersweet, I'm glad it finally happened.

 I dropped the ball, the streak is over. 

The funniest thing is, when I made the grade, nothing happened. I still passed the class, my family wasn't disappointed, I didn't get kicked out of college. All my irrational fears were simply that, irrational. Sometimes we can be our biggest critics. We hold ourselves to standards that no one else does. We pressure ourselves to impossible heights, pointing out each and every flaw, forgetting we're human, forgetting that we aren't God. So whether it's money, power, or like in my case grades, I challenge you, what burdens are you carrying that you don't have to? How can you boast less in yourself and more in your Creator?