Hi Friends, Let's Get Messy!

Why Genuine & Messy? What does Genuine & Messy mean? It means true authenticity. It means bravely stepping out to love others imperfectly. To be genuine in this messy world is accept that you cannot always get it right, but you choose to get in the messy knowing you are messy yourself. I had a boss once that called me into his office to tell me he wanted me to be okay with imperfection. I laugh a little because if you know my life, you know I am far from perfection. My life is not perfect, but his point was to not over analyze. I think this is good advice I can apply to stepping outside of my comfort zone in giving that compliment to a stranger or words of encouragement from the trenches to the parent wrestling kids at the checkout.

Today I again find myself gushing over the way people love each other well, even strangers, especially strangers. Loving others so well in the simple things. I cannot count the number of times a pure stranger has shared kind words with me for no reason other than just to share something kind with another. I have had strangers compliment my crazy curly hair (that does its own thing most of the time), a little girl complimented my wet hair braid, a stranger at a coffee shop complimented my shirt, and some guys complimented my high side-pony-tail for 80’s day. What sent these gushing feelings? Well, today is Saturday. It started with my normal Saturday routine of a quick shower, throw on some shorts & a t-shirt and run to get bagels for my crew. I grabbed a t-shirt from the back of my closet that I have had for years, it is nothing special at all… I think that is what gives this the extra kindness of what I am going to share. While standing in the bagel line, another customer says, “Well, that’s a cute shirt.” I thought about it for a second, realizing what I was wearing, just a t-shirt, just a cheap Walmart t-shirt I had had for years. I said thank you & this woman went on to say it was really nice & shared her struggle to find things that fit the way she wants. She shared her kind words & we briefly chatted about coffee.

We have all heard it said that a smile is contagious. This is so true! In the same way, I believe words matter. Kind words shared with a stranger last & can be contagious as people bravely step out to share kind words. In these days of mask wearing, maybe it matters even more because they cannot see that friendly smile you are giving them. How have you shared kindness with a stranger? Maybe it is a compliment of their hair. Or what they are wearing. Or the way they are parenting in a hard situation. Or the way their kids are miraculously acting like perfect angels in public. Or maybe it is buying the coffee for the person behind you in line. Or maybe it is refusing to back away from a stranger’s hard situation that cannot be described as anything less than messy.

But just because it is messy, does not mean you should not get involved. The fact that is messy is likely just the reason they need you. We are all messy. This world is not perfect. After the bite was taken from the forbidden fruit in the garden, this world has been graciously functioning under plan B. So where have you stepped into someone else’s mess? Maybe a friend you haven’t seen in a while keeps popping into your mind, so you invited them out of coffee to catch up. Maybe you saw someone looked uncomfortable, so you stayed around to make sure they were safe. Or maybe you introduced yourself, knowing you didn’t have the words, but trusting you would be given the words you needed at the right moment. Maybe you saw someone be treated in a way you had never seen another human treated, so you pulled you car over to make sure that person was okay. Maybe you knew you had a passion for kids & wanted to love on a kiddo in a season of need… But maybe you found the true growth in loving the entire family. I do not know what the “messy” is that you are called to, but I do know we are called to the messy. We are called to get in there with people who are hurting, even when we do not have the answers. Let’s get messy, because the truth is… we already are. So, let’s get messy in stepping into someone else’s hard. Let’s get messy into complimenting a stranger. Let’s get messy into loving others well.

How do you share kindness? How are you genuine in the messy? You may just find that you are the messy in the genuine. The truth is that is the kind of humility & community we are called to live. Happy weekend, friends! Thank you for being the genuine in my messy!

Love,

Brynn

WARNING:

I believe in safe space for everyone. If this post isn't your thing, no big deal, just move on. I am sure you will find that thing that you are passionate to encourage others about. Any negative comments will be removed.