Straight from the Heart
I went through a tough period recently which stripped me of all my confidence. I was so low but I dared not show it to those around me. My face even broke out and I had rashes all over my face. I was always looking down because I did not want anyone staring at me and asking questions but having a nine year old brother did not help at that moment becuase he always asked, ‘Gakii, what’ s wrong with your face?’ (You know kids – always curious.)
As I was going through this period, I stumbled across a newspaper article which talked about an ailing mother who ignored her pain to ensure her sick child got medical treatment. Mary was an HIV positive mum who was also suffering from cancer of the colon. She had an eleven year old daughter Sylvia, who was also positive and was attacked by severe meningitis which made her deaf, blind and her emaciated HIV infected body almost doubled over. You know, despite the situation Mary was in, she always had a smile on her face and not once did she blame anyone for her situation. She had actually gone to seek medical treatment for her daughter and not herself. That’s the highest form of sacrifice. I tell you when I read this article, I locked myself in my room and wept.
You may ask, how is this story relevant to this article? You see, Mary’s story was a turning point in my life. My problem seemed so insignificant compared to hers and yet Mary was happy and her situation did not rob her of her joy. You know ladies, this is the trick the devil uses on us. He whispers lies to us about our ‘flaws’, ‘weaknessess’, ’hopeless situations’ and we believe him and accept that there is no way out! We forget of God’s amazing love for us, Jeremiah 31:3 says I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving kindness. We can each consider ourselves a loved person, not because of our circumstances or situations but simply because God loves us perfectly, totally and eternally. This is what Mary knew.
I reflected back to my situation and I realised how I let myself believe the devil. How many times do we do this to ourselves as ladies? The devil capitalises on what we call our ‘flaws’. We tend to believe this and dwell on it, and it leaves us feeling miserable, inadequate and even rotten. It affects our inner and physical beauty. Remember the article on inner beauty, that our inner beauty reflects everything we do.
Remember ladies, the devil comes to kill, steal and destroy. Let’s not listen to his lies because he is out to destroy us, in Jeremiah 29:11 the Lord says ‘For I know the plans I have for you’ declares the Lord,’Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future’. Also remember James 4:5: ‘Submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you’.
I remembered all these and suddenly I let go of all ‘flaws’ and walked with my head held high! And you know what else, my face cleared just like that!
Mary’s story really inspired me. What if she had listened to all the negativity around her and lost hope because of her situation? Where would she be now? I picture Mary as a very beautiful woman and not in physical terms but from her heart. Luke 1:45 says ‘Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished’.
Be blessed ladies.
You are beautiful!
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