Authenticity - by Margaret

Authenticity-

To me, authenticity is to truly be who God designed us to be.  That in itself is something fluid as God shapes and molds us through our daily learning, experiences and relationships.  For someone like me who tends to overcomplicate things, it is simply to know who I am, to accept my MANY imperfections (and move on!), to daily strive to be my best me for myself, my family, and in my various roles, relationships and responsibilities. 

A year a half ago God literally stopped me - physically and mentally. I took time away from working and with intention entered a year of Sabbatical.  The first six months I did little, I rested, recovering from mental exhaustion and some physical challenges - it was a time of healing.  I planned nothing yet God gave me gifts that greatly impacted me:  a friend sent me The Gifts of Imperfection, which I devoured along with several other Brene Brown books (that have since blessed many others); I was surprised with an invitation to a bible study group with some fascinating women, together working through The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan;  and I was randomly invited to join a new group doing the Beth Moore DAVID study.  God placed the people I needed to both heal me and grow me during this season.  When I stopped I suddenly heard, saw and felt the things I had turned off for so long due to ‘busyness’.  God gave me time and rest ..and for the first time in my life I truly started hearing God speak through scripture, relationships old and new, songs on the radio, and doors that opened… or closed.  

Time off gave me the opportunity to visit family in far off places.  Rather than in a touristy way - I sought to know my roots and the cloth we came from.  While continents and cultures were very diverse, our joys and challenges, and our desire for happiness and purpose were surprisingly similar.  As mothers, aunts, daughters, friends, we are all trying to do our best for our family, our friends, our community.  I was gifted love, support, a community of family, Godly wisdom, and healthy perspective. 

My life verse is Psalm 46:10, ‘Be still and know that I am God’.  It reminds me to turn everything off once in awhile, to quiet the distractions, the comparisons, the doubt and guilt in my own mind and open my eyes, ears and heart to God.  He is in control - I am His creation.  When I stopped trying so hard I realized I was enough just as I was.  When I embraced the imperfection, brokenness and mess in my own life, doors opened to relationships and opportunities I never envisioned. For now, I see where I need to give my love and support, I am starting to feel whole again, my concept of beauty has changed, and I work daily to travel light in this journey. 

I welcome the challenge of this group - to keep me learning and growing, to open my eyes and heart, to keep it not about me, to help me be who God created me to be for today.