Masquerade

"Masquerading around day after day as a normal person is exhausting." Is it any wonder the author of this quote wishes to remain anonymous? If we believe we are living in a masquerade or "behind a mask", isn't that the first clue that we don't want anyone to know the real person? I think at times we can hide behind the mask for so long, we look in the mirror and no longer recognize the face staring back at us. What happens in life that we purposely dress for the masquerade and then forget to ever get out of costume? I suppose it is life itself that happens. In a true masquerade type mask, the only covered part of the face is the eyes. The eyes tell our story. They show what's in our heart. They send out rays of laughter, tears of joy, and glimpses of peace. The eyes well to the brim with warm tears and cry with pain, sorrow, grief, confusion, hurt feelings, disenchantment, the list goes on. Sometimes they appear hollow or deep set. On good days, they are wide open, filled with excitement, surreal with hope and passion and fixed on "the prize." Some say a life well lived is defined by the creases formed around our eyes that appear everytime we smile or laugh. When then do we find it necessary to "masquerade as a normal person to the point of exhaustion?" Perhaps it is anytime we look anywhere but up. IICor. 4:18 says..." as we fix our eyes not on the things that are seen BUT on the things that are unseen". When we take our eyes off Jesus, we lose our hope. Our little world becomes lost and we put on the mask and head off to the masquerade, hoping to hide our eyes and to appear as a normal person. Sometimes the "party" goes longer than we anticipated and our vision eventually becomes so blurred, we feel lost forever. Sometimes it takes that special person who may ask a question as simple as "How can I be praying for you?", that reminds us to take off the mask and just be real. Ps. 121:1-2 "I lift my eyes up to the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, who made the heaven and the earth." Let your eyes be uncovered and looking up. Who needs normal?

Thumbs and moms

Who or what do you take for granted in your life? How about...your thumbs? Do you take your thumbs for granted? Where would you be without your thumbs? I challenge you for one day to tape your thumbs back so that you can't use them. What would it be like to floss your teeth? Try sending a text message without your thumbs. Give me a "high five!" Sorry, only four today! How about snapping? Can you hold a pen? Ever try buttoning, zipping, or tying a bow without your thumbs? Cutting with scissors or a knife for that matter, becomes impossible.
You get the point. We should be overjoyed everyday with thankfulness that God blessed humans with opposable thumbs.
There are also people in our lives that we take for granted. Parents, specifically mothers!
Many times our moms are so driven by their love for us and their desire for us to succeed - they "get on our nerves." We go to bed every night, feeling assured they will still be there in the morning to wake us up, fix our breakfast, make our lunch, remind us to brush and floss...etc. We take for granted we will see them when we wake up, whether we want to or not.
Like many teens, I took my mom for granted. She was the typical mom for that day. A stay at home mom, cooked three meals a day and usually a dessert, cleaned the house, did the laundry and ironing, ran errands and kept every body's schedules on track. And was always "dressed" to the hilt! Of course, mom always had time to sit down and hear about our day. She pretended not to notice when I set my watch back for extra bike time,mom told the best jokes, and let me learn about bouillon cubes in my own way!
When I was about 10, mom developed breast cancer. She had a mastectomy. Mom was a trooper. She downplayed the whole event, acted as if it were nothing, just a way to cure her. And it did, for a while. In November 1975, the cancer returned. Again, mom had this superhuman attitude. The doctors removed what they could and began chemotherapy. The only time I saw her cry was the first time she lost her hair, but being mom, she bought a couple of wigs and found joy in changing her look from time to time.
On March 2, 1976, I woke up for the first time not taking mom for granted. We had stayed up late the night before. I rubbed mom's feet and we talked about the first concert I would be going to the next evening. I told her goodnight for the last time that night. I am so thankful for the time we spent together on her bed, just talking and getting to snuggle next to her. She was gone by morning.
I hope you will stop right now and take a good look at your thumbs and think of your mom. What would you do without her? Tell her what she means to you. Hug her everyday and let her know she is loved and appreciated. Allow her time in your life and allow her time in her own life too. Speak kindly to her and of her, always. Hold her hand in public.
You are here because your mom chose to give you life. She loves you.

Thumbs up for mom!