“And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool [afternoon breeze] of the day, so the man and his wife hid and kept themselves hidden from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to Adam, and said to him, ‘Where are you?’ He said, ‘I heard the sound of You [walking] in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.'” Genesis 3:8-10 AMP

The root of our innate sense of shame stems back to the very beginning of humanity. For the naysayers out there who want to argue Adam and Eve vs. Evolution, that’s not what this is about, and I’m not interested in the argument itself. I firmly believe everyone has the right and free will to believe whatever they want, but that means as much as I must respect the beliefs of others (whether I agree or disagree), I am entitled to the same in return. So if this isn’t your cup of tea, feel free to move on to the next post in your feed. I promise, my feelings won’t be hurt. I write because it brings me closer to God, and I keep writing because I want to bring Him glory in whatever way I can find.

Last night I was blessed with the opportunity to sit by the ocean with one of my nieces, enjoying some very overdue coffee and cake time together. I love being able to sit and talk with her, hearing about the things that are important to her, the things that are troubling her, and the things that bring her joy. I do my best to offer whatever insights I might have, and always pray I’m offering her words that will strengthen her spirit and uplift her heart. I’ve been blessed to be there and revel in her joys, as well as hold her through the tears of some of her deepest sorrows.

As we sat side by side on the beach, well into dusk, our conversation turned to the opinions of other people and why we, as human beings, tend to worry so much about what other people might or might not think of us. I was expressing to her my belief that the only opinion that actually matters is the one belonging to God. It is most definitely my firm belief, yet it is one I work hardest to remember. I’ve continued to think about that conversation she and I had, and it settled in my mind that the moment humanity took its big tumble, shame and fear was born. Adam and Eve hid themselves from God because they were afraid.

How many of us hide our truest selves from other people because we are afraid to let them see us as we really are, unable to trust that they will be able to accept what they see? We all want so desperately to be loved and accepted, that we are ready to hide behind our own version of fig leaves in order to make ourselves appear what we interpret as more acceptable to those around us. We tend to see and judge other people on the outward appearances, I believe as a defense mechanism against our own insecurities. It is often those who have experienced blatant judgment and rejection that are most accepting and non-judgmental.

Something that I’ve been struggling with is recent weight gain. I’ve become very self-conscious about my looks in regard to my weight. I’ve not seen my precious sister for a long time now, and I’m almost embarrassed to be seen by her because of my weight gain. How blessed I am to have a husband who always strives to make me feel loved and beautiful, constantly reminding me that I am not my weight. I am a daughter of God, and there is no greater blessing on earth than that! And when the day comes that I do see that beloved soul again, I know my weight will not matter to her, either.

The question is, how do we put down our need for worldly acceptance and instead focus only on the acceptance that matters, which is God’s? As I sat talking to that precious creature there on the beach, the importance of helping her grasp that one fact hit me hard right smack in the heart. I wanted her to truly understand that she has so much to offer the world. She is beautiful, highly intelligent, wickedly funny, and has an extraordinarily kind heart. I never want her to base her own self worth on what other people think, because the truth is, it’s not relevant. She has a wonderful mother who is raising her to be an amazing person, and I feel blessed to have a ringside seat.

As I struggle to focus on developing and using the gifts God gave me for the benefit of those around me, how do I help her focus on the same thing? All I can do is lead by example and continue to love her with all my heart for exactly who she is, doing my best to always support who she is becoming. I’m trying to do the same for her siblings, who I love with the same depth and ferocity. I love being with all of them, especially doing things they love to do. In trying to set my own example of unconditional love for them, I need to remind myself that God loves me, and all of us, more than any love we are capable of experiencing here on earth.

We must always remember that whatever wisdom God gives us to share with other people, He gives us to learn for ourselves, too. As much as I can sit here and write out the words God places in my heart, I need to go back and read them, because I know He is talking to me as much as anybody else through this platform. I’m grateful for the words He gives me, and I keep a constant prayer in my heart that those words can be used to bring others closer to the Heavenly Father who loves them. God bless you all…