MelissaStuff

I can't say it enough… Just be honest! When you love someone, just be honest. When you make the same stupid choice again, just be honest. When you are hurt, ju st be honest. When you want them to understand, just be honest. When you're afraid that you're going to disappoint them again, just be honest. When you're angry and you feel stupid, just be honest. When you don't understand why they did what they did, just be honest. When you aren't sure what the response is going to be, just be honest. When someone asks you a really important question, just be honest. When you're talking about stupid, every-day details that you don't think matter, just be honest.  Even when you don't feel like it, maybe, especially when you don't feel like it, JUST BE HONEST.

This morning, as we sang worship songs in church asking to be made more like Jesus, I had a perspective-shifting thought. What about some of the things that defined Jesus that we wouldn't want? Despised and hated by others (Is 53:3)  Mocked (Mk 15:16-17)  Bullied (Matt 27:30)  People made it their mission to make life miserable for Him (Lk 4:28-30; Matt 26:3-4)  Betrayed (Matt 26:47-56)  Abandoned (Lk 22:55-62)  Let down by people He loved and trusted (Matt 26:43)  His own family didn't believe Him (Jn 7:5)  Never fully understood (Matt 16:13-15)  Have we forgotten this is all part of "being Christlike"? These aren't the beautiful pieces of our stories, but meeting these things with grace and love and patience and kindness - THAT is the epitome of being like Christ. He shines brightest when there are holes and cracks and threadbare places in us . . . the very things that result from all of the ugliest, hardest, darkest moments. Even when w

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