I’m a notoriously bad faker. Nothing exhausts me more than plastering on a smile when I’d rather be curled up in bed reading a book or crying under my covers. But I’m a mom and a pastor’s wife and a human who needs to eat and therefore needs to go to the grocery store so I have lots of experience faking it.
And I’m not saying we should never fake it til we make it. It’s a legitimate strategy for pulling ourselves out of a downward spiral. And it’s not always appropriate to share your current mishaps with the entire world (or the grocery store clerk).
But here’s the thing.
When we act like we have it all together all the time. When someone shares their struggles and we nod sympathetically but don’t admit to our own. When we pretend our entire lives belong on Pinterest. Here’s what we’re really saying…
I’m too scared to be vulnerable.
Or, clearly I’m better than you.
Or, if you’d just work a little harder your life could be as great as mine.
Or, sure I need God’s grace a little bit. But not THAT much.
Instead let’s admit we don’t have it all together. That Pinterest would die a long, slow death if it came to our house. That we need God’s grace in overwhelming amounts every day. That we don’t do perfect here. Let’s nod in solidarity with the new moms and dads, as well as, the seasoned ones. With the lonely and the hurting. Because there’s nothing worse than feeling like you’re the only one struggling. And nothing more relieving than realizing that’s a lie. Because the reality is: we’re all in this together.
Do you ever feel like you’re the only one struggling? Have you ever let someone else believe they’re the only ones?