Authenticity

Last year was a really challenging year for me. It was the end of my first year of law school, and my husband, girls and I had been through so many changes. I learned some challenging news about my childhood, and both my nephew and my mom were diagnosed and treated for cancer. Whew, it was tough. But all God needs is faith the size of a mustard seed...some days I had no more, but I kept pressing forward.

As the holidays passed and the new year began, I decided that my New Year's Resolution was to live a life of authenticity. I decided to live openly and just as I am (quirks and cynicism, imperfections and inconsistencies, blemishes and all). That’s very difficult for a perfectionist like me, but there is such freedom in presenting yourself “as is” with no warranty, neither expressed nor implied!

Although I didn’t articulate it until now, my word for the year is “authenticity” – living life without pretense.

I doubt I am alone in this pursuit of authenticity and I would hazard a guess that I am right on schedule, as I turned 36 last December. I think that there’s a reason the Israelites wandered the desert for 40 years before they entered the Promised Land. I think it takes 40 years of wandering in our own power before we relent and let God lead.

I’m almost to the Promised Land, and day-by-day I give a little more of the reigns to God. Praise Him for only requiring the faith of a mustard seed!