What do stinky armpits and nose hairs have to do with one another you might ask… well, let me dive in.
When I was a little girl my grandparents made it a regular stop from Lebanon to Lancaster to come and do yard work and cleaning for my parents. My Grandma was a workhorse. Not only did she work hard, but she also expected US to work hard too. Gasp! In fact, when Grandma was coming we would often see her through our front window walking down the stone walkway toward our front door and loudly exclaim to one another, “Grandma’s coming! Quick, HIDE!” We would then quickly find the nearest hiding spot or run for our lives. Insert uproarious laughter. Otherwise, Grandma, upon spotting us would promptly tell us our immediate tasks and expect us to leap into action. And believe me, had we chosen not to adhere we would have a swift stern talking to which was not something you wanted to get from “the Gym Teacher” voice of Grandma.
So anyway, back to what stinky armpits and nose hairs have in common… Grandma came inside from one hot summer day of weed whacking and sat me down beside her (and I did love my Grandma, so I leaned in close) while she sipped her regular choice of iced coke. And boy, when I leaned in close let me tell you, that-day-she-STUNK! So, my honest little self exclaimed without hesitation, “Grandma, your armpits STINK!” Well, that phrase became a joke throughout my childhood and even into my adulthood. Suffice it to say, I don’t typically lie or fluff the truth. If you stink, you stink. And, you might hear it from me 🤪
Now, flash forward to just a few months ago. I was visiting my niece after a cleaning job and I decided this was the perfect time to tell her my “stinky armpits” story from when I was a child and tell her she may not want to lean in too close to Aunt Abi either right now… And to my utter shock, without missing a beat, the moment I finished my story, with her eyes peering up at me she boldly exclaimed, “Aunt Abi why do you have such huge nose hairs?” WHAT?! Me?! Nose hairs?! Huge?! Oh. My. Word! I mean stinky armpits I can handle that truth, but out of nowhere I’m now ashamedly aware that I apparently have humongous nose hairs I need to go home and pluck. Yes, my niece is my mini! Lord help me! Plucking nose hairs, for those of you who are blessed enough not to know, ensues the worst pain and tears almost nearing childbirth <<EXAGGERATION WARNING>> 🤣
Ironically, just before my lovely niece made me so ghastly aware of something (I was ignoring about myself apparently) I had just shared with a women's group the weekend prior about how valuable it is to have people in our lives who are willing to risk hurting us to simply speak truth into our lives. It’s important to not only accept others view of us into our lives but to actually take time, opportunity and to purpose and intentionally lean in to those around us and ask tough questions about ourselves from time to time. To learn. To grow. To be challenged. To be shaped. To be changed. To sharpen and to remove things from our lives that may be branches that we really ought to allow to be pruned. Without a mirror though, it’s hard to see sometimes that yesterdays mascara isn’t fully off your face and you subsequently have major raccoon eyes. BUT, if you look at the mirror——HELLO RACOON! It’s a quick reminder—Hey, I should probably go remove yesterdays make up. Likewise, how would we know our armpits stink or our nose hairs need a pluckin’ if someone near——KEY WORD— NEAR— us isn’t willing to be HONEST OR if we, aren’t willing to ask or accept that very honesty!
Ironically, just before my lovely niece made me so ghastly aware of something (I was ignoring about myself apparently) I had just shared with a women's group the weekend prior about how valuable it is to have people in our lives who are willing to risk hurting us to simply speak truth into our lives. It’s important to not only accept others view of us into our lives but to actually take time, opportunity and to purpose and intentionally lean in to those around us and ask tough questions about ourselves from time to time. To learn. To grow. To be challenged. To be shaped. To be changed. To sharpen and to remove things from our lives that may be branches that we really ought to allow to be pruned. Without a mirror though, it’s hard to see sometimes that yesterdays mascara isn’t fully off your face and you subsequently have major raccoon eyes. BUT, if you look at the mirror——HELLO RACOON! It’s a quick reminder—Hey, I should probably go remove yesterdays make up. Likewise, how would we know our armpits stink or our nose hairs need a pluckin’ if someone near——KEY WORD— NEAR— us isn’t willing to be HONEST OR if we, aren’t willing to ask or accept that very honesty!
“For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.”
James 1:24-25 NLT
I want to challenge and encourage us this week to consider not only accepting truths about ourselves from those near us, but to actually purpose and be intentional on ASKING those nearest us tough questions. You may caveat the ask with something like, “Remember, I’m sensitive so go easy on me, ya know, maybe start with something you see me doing right and well and THEN share gently something you notice that I could lean into Jesus more and be willing to rid from my life, pray about, or to work on!” But don’t NOT ask. Yup! Double negative;) do you love me now lol! But yes, ask tough questions and invite people in NEAR to see what maybe you’re missing in the mirror yourself and don’t let your blind spots keep you stuck in rooted yuck.
Let the yuck go so you can grow!
We are so much better when we are excited for opportunities to grow and change! I’m so excited to see how we continue growing into better stronger wives, husbands, children, friends, co-workers, worshippers, etc… let’s pluck those nose hairs, clean those pits and not forget yesterday’s mascara ladies 😂🤪
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Blessings,
Abi
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