Shame has been a mother tongue because I was taught to be ashamed—ashamed of my body, my size, the fullness of my nose, the width of my hips, the gap in my teeth, the volume of my laughter, the chocolate brown of my skin, and the depths of my joy. But those very things I used to hate, those very parts of me I used to loathe, have become the parts I love the most.
Faith allowed you to ask. Work and action allowed you to have, to be, to do. Do, be, and have all you’ve ever dared ask Me for!
The only way to truly do this wrong is to not do it at all. So here I am, taking my own advice—showing up, even if it’s imperfect. Because what’s the alternative? To keep my thoughts to myself, trapped by the idea that I need to fit into some imaginary mold? As my nephew used to say at the beautiful, ripe, polite age of 2, ‘No, thank you, please!’
Much like if someone were to write me a check for $1,000,000, if I never went to the bank to cash or deposit it, the gift is no good!
What I do with ALL God gives me is up to me! It’s up to me how I steward my time, my energy, my resources. So while I surrender ALL, I also need to accept ALL in return, too!
“Your will and mine be one,” I prayed! I didn’t know what I was praying for exactly, but I knew it’d be good. And yet again, here you are doing exceedingly and abundantly!”
The very thing that they said they would never do is actually the best thing that could happen to them. Have you ever wondered why it is that the things you said you would never do are the best things that have happened to you?
Boundaries aren’t about rejecting others but about inviting healthy, meaningful connections. They’re your protective forcefield, ensuring you and your spaces remain safe, healthy, and secure.
When we align our honesty with truth, we step into a place of authenticity and divine connection. In that space, God’s love covers us, and we begin to live in freedom. The truth may feel heavy at first, but it is always lighter than carrying the weight of what we try to hide or ignore.
It’s crazy, isn’t it? That in a world full of hatred and negativity, people dare ask a bright light to turn down. Asking me to be less joyful is, at its core, self-centered. Instead, I submit to your consideration: why are you offended by my joy?!
I often use these two terms interchangeably, but the truth is, they’re distinctly different, though closely related. I don’t know why now, but I do know that now is the time I needed to quiet and answer this persistent, ongoing search. Exploring them here brings me a sense of clarity. And who doesn’t love that?!
