God’s Mirrors

I was inspired today. My inspiration came from a place it hasn’t from in a long time: from Matt.

I should edit myself; like my son, Matt prefers (I think) to be called Matthew. I have a horrendous habit of calling people by their nicknames, one I should get rid of. 

I haven’t seen him in 18 years, but Matthew inspired me by reviving his blog. He wrote about it on Facebook. He linked to places he found helpful and I looked into those too. I admire him for so many reasons.

Matthew is part of a string of people in my life who somehow, in their presence, make me feel like I’m a better person than I realize. I’ve been blessed to have Matthew, Dana, Eric, Erik, Kenn, Daren and Dan cross my path or walk a few steps of my journey with me. Why all men? I don’t know, but somehow God put them in my path at times when I needed uplifting. 

I don’t remember why I needed uplifting the day before Christmas break in high school (senior year, I think.) Matthew approached me in the hallway in between classes and handed me a box that looked like it could contain a bracelet. My heart raced. I didn’t want a bracelet from Matthew - much too personal.  I opened the box and to my relieved delight, found a gift certificate to a clothing store at the mall. 

I loved clothes, and I loved that store. How he knew that, I don’t remember, but I remember exactly what I bought. I threw my value-driven consciousness to the wind and bought a cream-colored blouse at FULL PRICE. It felt like the most indulgent thing I’d ever done. In my memory, that blouse is exquisite. It could be worn elegantly with a simple necklace and dress slacks or paired gracefully with a myriad of skirts. I had wanted one like it for months. I felt like with it in my closet, my wardrobe was complete – that somehow, I was a better person. 

I’ve learned so many times since that it’s not the blouse that was important, it’s the way Matthew and each of these important people in my life makes me feel: like I’m better. They each see in me something I don’t see in myself. Each is acting as God’s mirror, to show me that I am more, am better, am worthy. For a brief moment, I’m smart, kind, competent, wonderful, bad-ass and maybe, in the truest sense of the word, beautiful. 

If you don’t have someone like this in your life, look around, they’re likely there.  Accept the way they make you feel, and before you go back to being your humble self, look in the mirror and see what you are, and what you can become.