The Mask

"Ready or not, here I come."

It is classic game of hide and seek and yet the older my kids get, the better they get at hiding and disguising themselves.

So many  times, I look and look until I swear I must be all alone in my house. At times, they have become so good at disguising themselves, that I have practically walked right by them without even knowing they were there.

This game of hide in seek seems to be all fun and games, but in reality; it holds more truth then I am willing to admit.

As my children quietly and secretly try their hardest to find the best spot so mom can't find them; I desperately look in anticipation. As I begin to look, I realize that I am looking for more than just my children; I'm looking for myself.

You see, I have often become so good at playing them game or putting on my own mask so others can't "see" me. I run away into the darkness and hide behind the sadness so that I don't have to deal with the pain, or what others may think or say.

I hide behind my own mask of fear, in hopes that no one can see through that mask and into my heart.

The truth is; we all put on a mask. We all have that certain weakness that we pray no one will find out about. We all try and hide behind our own hurt and pain and at times shut that door and pray no one will come in....we run....we hide.

Here's the thing. Who are we really hiding from? Who are we hurting by hiding behind a mask all the time? At times, I think I am even hiding from Christ.....crazy, I know, but you can't; I can't. He is always there. We can't hide from our creator. He knows every fear and every tear we cry.

There are times I think that Christ is just waiting for me to take the mask off and be vulnerable to Him and what He can do if I am willing to let go of what I think I am hiding behind.

We try and hide from our family and friends because we are ashamed of the hurt and pain we are feeling, when in reality, they just want to love us and be there to support us.

Sometimes I wonder how God could really work if we stopped hiding and took off the mask. If we could take a step out of our comfort zone and say, "God I give you all of me, insecurities, imperfections and all. I am not longer hiding behind what I have no control over."

"Ready or not, here I come. I'm ready God."