(this is written for Women, please read it from who you are ; )
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I read a message this morning and it made me think about all the critical labels that we put upon ourselves because we hear them from others, and then we carry them, believing that they are a part of us. But I know this is wrong, this is not truth, and I wanted to share this story with you that I wrote while I was thinking about this today.
You are more beautiful than you know, you are more special and beloved than you could ever imagine. Every woman is my beautiful Earth-Sister and we all have so much to share with one another. Even those we have never met in person, we can come to feel that we know one another when we share from our heart and the immense love that we, as women, carry there. We can be a light for this world, shining to guide others to know love, and to embrace it.
I have had so many labels-critical labels, diminishing labels, and degrading labels placed upon me. First by my dad and stepmothers, then, nonverbally, by the many (11, that I can remember) male perpetrators coming after my innocence without my consent, also by my covert-narcissist ex-husband of 30 years, and all repeated over and over in my own mind, towards my own self.
For so many years, I believed these labels were permanent, like scars on my knees from falling when I was young. I thought that these labels would always be there, staring me in the face whenever I looked in the mirror. Then, God did something in my life that changed my perspective on these labels.
I was given this large yellow hoodie, and it was way too big for me, so I decided to pass it on to someone for whom it would be a better fit.
But before I gave it away, God told me to write upon that hoodie, all of the ugly things that were said about me, all of the ugly beliefs I had in my own mind because of the treatment I had received in my life.
I wrote everything down, and these words covered the entire garment. God told me to put on the hoodie, then He told me that all of those words are words that kill, not words that give life. They kill our spirit, but His Spirit gives new life. See 2 Corinthians 3:6
God told me that just like when Lazarus came out of the grave, Jesus told them to remove the grave clothes that held him tightly bound in the grave:
John 11:43-44
1599 Geneva Bible
"As he had spoken these things, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. Then he that was dead, came forth, bound hand and foot with bands, and his face was bound with a napkin. Jesus said unto them, Loose him, and let him go."
God instructed me to remove this jacket, and, in so doing, I would be taking off all of those ugly labels that led to death. Hebrews 12 (1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)says: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without the which no man shall see the Lord. Take heed, that no man fall away from the grace of God: let no root of bitterness spring up and trouble you, lest thereby many be defiled."
Bitter words disrupt our peace; both our peace with others and our peace with ourselves, but especially our peace with God. Ugly, judgmental, critical words cause hopelessness and despair to take root in our hearts, and these defile us and the people with whom we interact in our day to day life. They cause division between us and God because our hearts sit in disagreement with what He has to say about us.
I rejoiced as I took off that garment and all of its ugly labels. I thought about burning that hoodie, but the practical, pragmatic, thrifty side of myself couldn't bear to see something go to waste if it could be used. So I decided to see if I could wash the words away in the laundry, then I could still give it away.
It came out pristine and golden, and the Lord told me this is how He is going to make me: pristine and golden, a shining light for his glory.
No matter how many labels are put upon us by others and even by our own beliefs about ourselves, God can wash it all away in his living water, with his Truth, with his life-giving Spirit. Let us give all of these labels over to God and let Him cleanse us and purify us so that we can come out like shining gold, the way we were born to be as his daughters.
Here is my new label: I am a surrendered, solid, structured, and serene daughter of the most high King. Who does God say you are in his eyes, and thus, in your future, with God's help?
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