Stepping out from behind the mask

I work at a nursing home and so this morning at work I was helping a resident get ready for the day. This resident is well into her 80s and as I sat there watching her routine, my heart ached for her. To be constantly worrying about what you look like, trying to “put your face on” and covering your beautiful hair with a ridiculous wig…Something had to happen along her journey and she believes that she is only beautiful hiding her true self. Her makeup from the day before is still caked on and she puts more on for the new day. The brightest red lipstick is applied and later used on her cheeks as blush, then mascara goes on to bring out what eyelashes she has and give herself more eyebrows. And then she covers her long gray hair with a wig that even she doesn’t like. Why go through this same routine day after day for years upon end? Maybe I don’t fully understand because I have never felt obligated to wear makeup. It wasn’t until I got into college I began wearing it on a semi-regular basis and even now wear it few and far between!

 

I have had my struggles with identity and even in my early twenties I wish that I would have dealt with my identity issues before college. But to be near the end of my life and still unsure of who I am and who God has created me to be, I couldn’t imagine! I praise the Lord for the people He has placed in my life along the way to encourage me in finding me and to step out from behind that mask. 

While I was in Swaziland in June, we spent a day with some of the children there with the idea of helping them find who they are in Christ. Many of these children have very little, if anything, they can call their own. This vision of “I Am” boxes came from Lisa Black.