Authenticity
There is a great movement today to attempt at any cost to be viewed as having it “all together.” We only desire our best photos to be posted; whether they be of ourselves, the food we eat, or of our family vacation.
The TCG theme for 2020 is “Authenticity.”
Being Authentic is defined as “not false or copied; genuine; real; representing one's true nature or beliefs; true to oneself or to the person identified.” —dictionary.com.
We are finding that people enjoy when home decorators post pictures from other less than beautiful parts of their otherwise impressive homes, that show laundry not yet folded (or washed), their children’s toys scattered across the living room floor, or even themselves just after waking up, before they have been beautified. Somehow, when we see that others live in the real world where messes get made and life gets too busy to allow us to keep a spotless house, it helps us to relax and appreciate our own lives.
What does being authentic or real, look like? One cannot truly accomplish authenticity until they become comfortable with who they are. When you are young, the tendency was, after observing other girls who you admired, to then turn and see how you measured up in comparison. Often, after assessing ourselves, we either felt inferior or we were tempted to alter who we were to become more like those we admired.
Authenticity is not reached when perfection is accomplished. Instead, it is an understanding that although we are far from perfect, fortunately, so is the rest of the world. Although I make mistakes and fail, I have found that if I have shown mercy to others’ imperfections, that I too will be shown mercy and given grace to get up, dust myself off and to do better and be better next time. Thank God for those “next times.”
Let’s be real. We will have “off” days, where we feel badly, are tired, cranky and just not on top of the world. But don’t forget in those times, our Father’s love for us never changes and though we may mess up, we can start brand new tomorrow.
I praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made Ps. 139:14
For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works
Eph 2:10 AMP
