Sisterfriends,

It’s hard being vulnerable and transparent. There are plenty of times when I would much rather hide behind the masks of pseudo-protection.You think it would safeguard you from judgment, be it people close to you or associates and business acquaintances. There is nothing safe in being fake. I personally had to differentiate between being “real” and being “private”. I’ve learned through my interactions that people aren’t used to seeing, experiencing or recognizing open and honest characteristics in relationships. I got tired of being fake. Issa lot of work! By design, I am a very affectionate person. I tried suppressing it, reserving my love for perceived safe spaces, in order to self-protect. I remember my younger self-saying “When I have children and a man of my own, I will shower them with all this bottled up love.”

One important lesson Grace has taught me, that religion stunted, is that love can be expressed in a myriad of ways. Religion taught me that you had to qualify to be loved, you had to be a perfect human, deserving of love. Grace guides you to love from afar, Grace will guide you to continue to have a conversation with someone who’s chatty or lonely. Grace will equip you in forgiving your backstabbing co-worker. (Forgiveness is also a form of love). Grace will equip and guide you to showering love on hate.

Showing Love isn’t only for others. Grace showers you with love thereby teaching you how to love yourself. It is the only way you’ll be able to give and receive it. Grace teaches you to make decisions that edify you. Grace teaches you choices and their consequences. Grace will teach you discernment and provide you with a means of escape from unloving environments and relationships. Showing love is a rewarding release. Receiving love is just as exhilarating. Start today right where you are reading this! Allow grace to flow through you. Permit yourself to Show Love without any expectations. I bet you’ll feel stress-free and carefree.