Hey Y’all!! I pray you and your families are staying safe and healthy! I know that you all were looking at the title and wondering where this is going. 🤣 We are truly in a unique time where we are encouraged to wear a mask to protect ourselves from a virus. I encourage that as well! I was thinking that while I have been staying home more, my mask has been OFF!! Your girl is usually kinda put together. I like to be cute, for myself. If someone else is blessed as a byproduct, then amen! Lately, when I do actually have to be presentable, I look like I’m going to the prom! I have noticed though that I have been walking around in leggings more than ever, even found some that have not been worn before. I have not put on makeup most days. And here comes the big one. We sista friends right? I have had my hair off, y’all! Yes, I like wigs and they have not been on my head…a lot. Just me and these two braids! I just feel so free! Don’t you feel free when you can just “be?”

I began to think about how we wear masks to protect ourselves outside of the pandemic. We can hide behind our jobs, relationships, organizations/affiliations, and lifestyles. I was looking through some of the old blogs and I realized, I am VERY open in most of these blogs. I take my mask off here. You guys get to experience the girl behind the mask of titles, positions, clothes, jewelry, and hair. Sometimes I wonder what people think of me after a post, and I used to be filled with anxiety before each one. I sometimes feel like I give too much. This is my place to share with you so that you can have your own individual revelations and “me too” moments. But who are we really behind the many facades we wear? Have we taken our mask off to God? Listen, I thought I did, but I think I was mistaken!

I was listening to Pastor LaBryant Friend and he said “Most daughters don’t have the language to tell the Father where it hurts.” That hit me like a ton of bricks! Many of us don’t know how to articulate what hurts or trust that God will heal it once the wound is opened. After I listened, I began to pray and uncover some areas that I have not really opened up to God. I had real tears ladies because I thought I was being transparent, but it was just filtered through my protection of myself. It’s like, I want Him to heal it, but I don’t want Him to touch it. I was listening to someone a while back and they asked the question, “If we are busy protecting ourselves, what are we allowing God to do?” He tells us that He is our protector, He sent His son to show His love for us, and He sent an advocate in the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. But we try to do all of His jobs!

When we uncover ourselves, not only do we give ourselves permission to be healed, but we can show someone else the way. Look, growth and healing are messy and don’t always look good. Just like I will not go out of my house with my two braids exposed, we don’t want anyone to see what we look like while we are on the way to our destination. I get it. In all things we must use wisdom, so we must be sure we open our wounds to those we trust. I have taken my mask off in front of others and had to quickly retrieve it because of their mismanagement. Everyone isn’t designed to nurse your wounds or handle the weight of your pain. But by us opening up, we may have someone near us that can help us to grow. Being covered keeps us from helping others and keeps us from being helped by someone else. You never know who has the tools to get your out of your struggle!

During this time, take your mask off, sis! Most of us are still quarantined in some form, so we can be free! We can’t hide anything from God anyway, He knows the amount of hairs on our heads! Show your Father where it hurts! It could be abandonment, fear, rejection, relationship issues, or character flaws. We first have to admit that the issue is there for Him to heal it. We can ask God to show us those areas that we need to hand over the reins. Ask for help to not only give it to Him, but for the fortitude to leave it there! Now we have to ask for the healing and participate as He leads us in victory.

I pray that we uncover the mask that we have hidden behind for so long. I pray that we seek God on what the hidden issues are and ask Him to heal us with His healing balm. That we are free to identify them as a conduit to freedom, not a cave of condemnation. I thank God that we will walk in freedom, authority, and true authenticity. Embracing our evolution today and in the days to come. Love you all and I am continuously praying for the safety of you and your families. Toodles!!

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