Becoming Confident About Convictions

batman faceWhat a joy it was to help Faith Assembly of God with their celebration of Palm Sunday! I learned so much while painting the adorable faces of children from all over Hyannis. Some of their requests cracked me up. These kids were either adamant about having me create what they struggled to communicate, or they were timid and fearful to ask for what they wanted. I especially loved the little boy who wanted to be a vampire (even after I reminded him that Easter is about good defeating evil) and the older girl who asked her mom for permission to get a heart on her hand and then needed mom’s approval for the color it would be. Precious.

These kids made me think of my life as I have grown in my faith. There was a time that I thought face painting might be wrong and I was like the older girl–fearful of doing anything that might break the rules. I also had convictions–or desires–like the little boy (although mine were more in line with my nickname of “goodie two shoes”) that I would put my foot down and speak my mind about as if I knew it all. Take divorce, for example, I used to make people feel so guilty for their failed marriage. “You can always work it out; have some faith!” Then my (first) husband left me and, after I did all I could to keep him, I learned that I have no jurisdiction over anyone else’s choices and what happens in my live does not have to define me.

Life has a way of tweaking our convictions, doesn’t it? I know we can become more judgmental, bull-headed or timid if we allow our circumstances to build our fear, but I prefer to believe that if we are learn from life and work out our faith, confidence begins to conquer those fears and we become more balanced and peaceful. Kind of like the little boy who decided he didn’t want to be scary after all and had me paint Batman on his face instead.

If you are feeling the pressures of other people’s developing convictions, be careful to guard your heart from taking offence to their immaturity. Think of them like you would a child who is still figuring out what he believes and give them the grace to grow. After all, someone was patient with you in your developing years.

*****

Catrina Welch is an image- and life-coach whose message is not as much “what not to wear” as it is, “Know Who You Are,” which is the title of her book of guidelines for your personal image identity. Catrina has also written a Bible study to help women overcome their confidence conflicts; it is titled Supreme MakeOver: a Rich and Refreshing Devotional Experience. Her other books include Footprints Through the Sand: a Consolidation of Life-altering stories about Loving and Losing our Trisomy-18 Baby and Confident Beauty: Reflecting the One Who Made You with the Images in Your Mirror and Your Soul, which will be available in book stores this spring. All of these books are available now at www.CatrinaWelch.com


Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *