Can YOU Stand the Rain..for YOU?

     Besides being one of my favorite all time jams this song really speaks an important message. It's only proper that the people we want in our lives are those that are down to stick it through with us, in all aspects of our journey. Those that can stand the rain. And you know, rightfully so. Nowhere in the Book of Life did it ever say our walk on earth would be easy. Infact-- on the contrary, we are guaranteed a hard and difficult existance, yes with its ups but as well as those inevitable downs. That being said, this is isn't your typical "choose your friends wisely" post. You know this already. Today I would like to explore the subject of loyalty-- to self.

     How dedicated are you to yourself??? Your hopes, your dreams, beliefs, and inner being. Do you stick up for yourself in the midst of adversity? Do you encourage yourself to push on through the hard times in order to achieve those dreams in your heart? Do you light your own fire of hope or are you actually the one pouring water on your own flame? When your beliefs are tested do you stand firm by yourself ready to fight for what you know? Or do you push yourself over, bowing to others? The question I am asking here is can YOU stand the rain....for yourself???

     I have been so blessed to have the good Lord place some wonderful friends in my life that are there for me through thick and thin. They support my dreams, my aspirations and my purpose.They uplift me when I'm down. They are honest with me when I'm lying to myself.  They are there when I'm smart and they are still there when I'm doing stupid things. Granted, they don't hesitate to make me aware of my stupidity, but it's all done with and out of love. My friends can and have definately withstood the test of rain. So I asked myself, how about me? Unfortunately, this reflection revealed how I've often been that shady type of friend to myself.

     A song that at first listen I had fell in love with (love now revoked), is called "Me Myself and I" by Beyonce. In this song, she croones about how she has decided to be her own best friend because she knows that "I will never disappoint myself." So this is one of those songs with lyrics you immediately want to embrace because you so much want to believe it. Who wants to think that they ever fail themselves? We have exceptionally higher standards for ourselves regarding ourselves, because we KNOW ourselves, and are well acquainted with who we are. Therefore, we expect that we would never do anything to ourselves that would bring us harm. Think hard. Think again. This is a false and detrimentally deceitful ideology.

     Noone is perfect. Paul laments over this truth of the human condition when he pens,

"For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing." (Romans 7:19).

We are all failures. Noone is immune to making mistakes. OF COURSE we will disappoint ourselves! Over and over I have seen myself in that position where it's like, dang I definately knew better --but I did it anyway. Or maybe I didn't know, but the consequences still hurt and I have noone to blame but my own ignorance. At times like this the temptation is to derade myself. Admittedly, in the past I have insulted myself about how stupid I was or bad or incompetent. Yet as I now think about it, that is not the reaction I would expect from a friend. Good friends don't kick you when you are down, they stand by you and help lift you back up. If we can require that from another person why can't we demand the same from ourself? Whether we are excelling or failing it's important to stick by ourself in the same loving, supportive manner a good friend would.

 You must first learn to love and treat yourself with respect before others can learn how to love and respect you.

I have decided that YES, I Can  weather through my own storms. YES, I Can stand the rain FOR MYSELF. Can you?