Cinnamon and Spice, All Things Nice!

        I am always looking for ways to update this house of mine. There are countless things "wrong" with it, like the front door screen that is ripped from top to bottom, the endless stains on our light light light beige carpet (might as well call it white), the hideous shell shaped brown bathroom sink, the nasty carpet in the basement, the warped wood paneling in the basement, and chipped paint here and there. As I look at all the imperfections I get a little frustrated and wish we would just fix all the problems. But instead I tend to mask all the imperfections like covering up the stains with a little rug, putting a bookshelf over the warped area of the warped wall in the basement, decorating the ugly brown sink with cute little trinkets, and hanging a picture up over the chipped paint. And if my house starts to smell like boys (which it does quite often!) I will do what I found that works great, which is take some orange peels, brown sugar, cinnamon and a little oil and throw it all in a small little pot then simmer it over the stove for about 30-45 minutes. Works like a charm! The house smells sooooo good and I feel much better about the smelly boy smell in my house. 
         Isn't this true of ourselves as well? We can find so many imperfections about ourselves and try to mask those things with "stuff." I do it all the time! Is that a pimple? Cover it up! Is my hair not functioning today? Pull it up in a ponytail! Isn't it the same with other imperfections as well? I find myself trying to "cover up" things often. If my house is a mess and I know company is coming over I rush to clean clean clean because heaven forbid someone knows I have a messy house! If something is upsetting me and I have been crying, I refuse to leave the house until all signs of crying are gone because the thought of someone knowing I'm having a bad day is unacceptable. If I'm annoyed by someone I still find myself smiling because it's the polite thing to do. 
        In your opinion, are masks necessary? Or are they in the way of living our lives the way God had intended us to live? God calls us to live honestly and with integrity. Does that include the things we often try to keep to ourselves and try to hide from the outside world? Is it o.k. to mask all the unpleasant things with all things nice? 
        I think it's unhealthy to have so many masks and then depend on the masks more and more as we age. However, in some circumstances I think it's the proper thing to do. I'm thankful that with my husband I can take all my masks off and know that he still loves me. Same goes for my family and friends. Isn't it funny though, that I try to mask things with God? He's the one that knows and see's everything about me...and yet if I try to ignore Him I think I don't have to deal with whatever it is I'm trying to hide. Maybe it's because I know God will challenge me to change those things when I'm so comfortable wearing the masks. Change is hard, especially when you're so used to being that way! Wearing masks is easy.
       There is no such thing as a honky dory life and everyone has imperfections. I need to work on realizing that I don't need to mask so many things in my life. I never expect anyone else to be perfect. In fact, I would rather have people in my life who take their masks off for me. So, the next time I have company I will leave a few toys on the floor, I will leave the house with my hair down and looking funny AND laugh about it, and the next time I want to cry, gosh darn it I will! But that yucky boy smell? That has got to go! No need to let anyone in on that nastyness! Bring on the cinnamon and spice and all things nice! :)