(FreeImages.com/GerardoAlvarez)
The woman, brushed back her brown hair, pensively looked at the computer screen one more time, and bravely wrote the words. With a simple click of the mouse, her words were posted. They were words, expressing something that she cared about and appreciated. She had asked for feedback on her post, and she was not disappointed by the amount of comments she received. They poured in. The post had definitely “plucked a few strings.”
The feedback was very honest. Some was super positive, some was very doubtful, some was skeptical, and some was clearly negative. She had asked for honest feedback, and she had received it.
At first, some of the feedback stung. The words were raw in their honesty.
As the woman read all of the comments, she realized that she could view the responses two ways: she could take them as rejection and/or harsh criticism, but that wouldn’t be fair because she had asked for honesty. The other choice would be to feel honored that people felt safe enough to voice their opinions to her.
One commentator even apologized for voicing some skepticism, and she quickly assured that person that they should never apologize for having a voice.
Every day, we have these moments — these encounters with others — when we choose how we will respond to the voices around us…
Over the past year, I have been feeling called into this place of freedom — a place where I can have the courage to speak and to not feel it necessary to apologize for my voice. …apologizing for my existence.
It is not a matter of being offensive with my voice because that would be a different matter.
It is a matter of answering this defining question:
“How will you respond when the temptation is to shut down, to hide, to walk away from freedom because of the fear of the risk and the fear of rejection?”
Here are thoughts that I recently wrote:
“There is an enemy that wants us to apologize for existing, wants us to fade into the background, wants us to hide behind our fears and insecurities and rejection, wants us to not exist…
There is a Lover/Creator who keeps telling me to not apologize for being, thinking, believing, and feeling.
He keeps telling me that He placed His voice inside me, and that regardless of who agrees or doesn’t or who likes me or not, that I am to stand bravely and securely because I am unfathomably, completely, lavishly loved!
This entire past year, the Lord kept telling me, “[…], you know your freedom; now walk in it.”
It brings tears to my eyes every time I am made aware of how He is changing me, making me brave, helping me to become His warrior-princess!
Am I perfect? Far from it!
Do I make mistakes? Daily.
BUT, this I know: I am learning the freedom of being completely secure in eternal, unceasing, undeserved Love!
…and I am learning the beautiful humbling merits of His grace!
Grace In The Moment 