Keeping It Real (Five Minute Friday)

Another Five Minute Friday! I've missed a couple of weeks, because I simply didn't feel like writing.  I do this for fun, so if it's not, I'm not.

Anyway, the prompt for today is "Real."

START

For the longest time, I was reluctant to have anyone visit our home.  Maybe it stemmed from the time that my mother-in-law came over.  I'd cleaned extensively, yet after the visit she told her sister that I don't clean.  Okay, our house isn't as spotless as hers, but still.

But I've gotten better about having friends here.  I finally realized that when they visit, they aren't here to see the furniture or the kitchen table.  They're here to visit us.  Sure, I straighten up, but I don't fret over a little bit of dust or a reasonable amount of clutter.  I'm just keeping it real.

Similarly, for years I put on a happy face in spite of my depression and cancer and other "stuff."  I thought that people would stay away if they knew.  Some do.  But most of the time when I've been open, people respond in love.  People respond to authenticity.  I want to be an example of that, so others don't feel as though they have to hide what they're really going through.  It's a blessing to be able to help others as well as to receive compassion and encouragement, but we can't do either if we aren't showing who we really are.

STOP

Click either image in this post for more Five Minute Friday!