We've all know at least one.
Maybe we've even been one.
You know the one.
The Mean Girl.
No matter what you do, you're not cool enough, you'll never have it as together as her and you
certainly can't sit with her at the lunch table because you just aren't quite up to her caliber.
We blame it on childhood. On adolescences.
But, I've noticed a very real phenomenon of Mean Girls growing up to become Mean Women.
One of the worst aspects is that they tend to do their cutting down with a smile on their face.
And if they are a believer in Christ, chances are their knife is one hand and their Bible in the other.
Oh the Mean Girls may have grown up and now know that looking someone in the face and
making fun of them is unacceptable behavior, so now they've become passive aggressive Mean
Women.
____________________________
Recently on Facebook I watched a Great Grandmother and Grandmother-a mother/daughter team in
their 60's and 40's respectively, out and out make fun of someone growing through a difficult season,
'Because she brought it on herself'.
Can I just be very honest and frank here?
*Most of the troubles and trails I've had in my life, I brought on myself. And I thank God everyday
for friends and family that loved and supported me anyway.
* These women quote Scripture, Homeschool, talk about what Bible Study they are doing. They
should be different.
Yet, it's as if none of it matters.
In response to what I saw and some other things I've witnessed recently, I posted this on
Facebook.
"When I see grown women, mothers, grandmothers, great grandmother's being passive aggressive snarky and hateful on fb my judgmental side can raise its ugly head and make me want to smack some Jesus right into them.
And makes me as hateful as them.
Women's ministry is my passion, my calling. Watching women be plain out mean then put 'lol' like it's no big deal, makes me angry then breaks my heart into a thousand pieces. Girls we are all called for so much more than this. So much more.
If you know someone is hurting why Why WHY would you be snarky about it?? Girls who claim to know and love Jesus, can we love each other fully, deeply flaws and all? Isn't that the mark of Christ-"they will know us by our love"? Let's be grace bearers, mercy givers-until it hurts. Until we've given all we can and only Jesus can fill us up to give more.
Let's show the world that Jesus really does make a difference in our lives."
________________________________
Why is this so difficult for us as women? Perhaps I am generalizing, but I've seen enough examples
to think that I am not generalizing by much.
And the example I despise the most? The one starring back at me the mirror.
Do not mistake my passion on this subject as perfection.
Oh no, I have a long way to go.
I am not perfect, but I am prayerful.
Prayerful that my life would be marked by love and grace and compassion. Yes, even for those
who I believe may have invited the drama into their lives.
I pray that mercy would flow, even when it's difficult or inconvenient. Even when I've given and
given and been stretched and pulled and just don't think I have one more ounce to give.
Because, that's when Jesus meets us both there. If it was easy to do these things, let's face it, we all
would. But, when it becomes draining and time consuming and we are vexed down to our core about
how we could possibly be called on one more time to help this wounded soul, that's when Jesus
shows up and shows off. That's when I am reminded that never once has He told me 'I've helped
you enough, I have nothing left to give.' Never have I shown up and poured my heart out to him for
10th time and He has said 'your chances are up. I am through with you.' I've never been to broken,
battered or flat out crazy and He's written me off and just replaced me with someone else.
I've never been to much of a mess for Jesus.
So, that's how I pray I will love.
___________________________________
But, here's where it becomes tricky. When we pray those prayers, God's going to believe we mean
them. He's going to give us opportunities to practice.
So, let's do it. Let's practice together.
Especially, if we say we know Jesus. Let's practice love. Grace. Mercy. Peace and Compassion.
All those things we say we love, that give deep meaning to our faith.
In all areas and people groups of our lives. Not just our church friends, our Bible study girls . . .the
'cool girls'.
__________________________
Jesus doesn't have a 'cool table'. He has a feast. And I can guarantee you the one He's inviting to sit
next to Him is a mess. Oh how Jesus loves a mess of a person. Even ones who make the messes
themselves. (just read about a few a favorites in Scripture: Abraham, Sarah, Moses, David, Mary
Magdalen, Peter, Paul-ALL messes at some point. All used by God.)
It's time for us to grow up. Put the Mean Girls to rest, leave a legacy of kindness for our daughters.
Live a life marked by extravagant, unearned love.
Ephesians 5:1 - 2 MSG
Wake Up from Your Sleep Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.
Let this be the year that we cast the Mean Women inside of each of us aside.
Let this be the year we chose love over judgment and envy.
Let this be the year our Bible study and church attendance marks a visible difference in our lives.
Not so we can have any credit at all.
But, so we can loudly proclaim "It's all because of Jesus!" !
Practicing with you and Praying for us all on this journey,
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