We shame ourselves...

Pardon me for being a simpleton here, but I was reading one of Brene' Brown's books called "I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn't): Making the Journey from "What Will People Think?" to "I Am Enough", and I came across this paragraph. Where she explains the difference between humiliation and shame....

(By the way, If you haven't read any of her stuff, I can't recommend it enough to you. Even if you are not really on a journey like I am to a more free and rich life..read it anyways..it can't hurt!!) 

So shame is kind of like that Harry Potter cloak, the cloak of invisibility, that we wear and believe.

Ironically, I have often felt like no one can see my shame..but all I need is me.

Does anybody out there understand the impact of this?

It hit me like a ton of bricks because I have been wearing this cloak around my entire life. 

I have been carrying around what people have told me, and even what I "think" people think of me.

All I have to do is simply remember that I have the power to stand up under false lies and give myself the benefit of the doubt. I do not have to believe everything people say and most especially take it to heart as true.

Something else she noted, was that shame is our first line of defense when we feel vulnerable or hurt. So, we give as much as we get. 

Remember that when you get into a battle with someone.

I just thought I'd share that with you on this Good Friday. This is the day when Jesus was shamed and humiliated on the cross. 

And he gave his life willingly.

The veil was torn when he took his last breath signifying that the old covenant was no longer the way we have a relationship with God...but Jesus was the last sacrifice. 

We do not have to take a "sin" offering anymore to the alter. 

In fact, Jesus left us with a new command...

A new command I give to you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another.   -John 13:34

So many of us get this wrong...probably because we've lived under the shame of people, churches..or someone we've needed to love us badly...but didn't, or couldn't..or wouldn't.

We believe the shame they put us under..at least I'll hold my hand up and be counted under that.

And today, of all days, we can remember who laid down his life for us not to be condemned to death or shame anymore. 

So..I hope this is something someone needed to hear today..and Happy Good Friday!

It's a very good day, indeed!!