Being Real

“It doesn’t happen all at once,” said the Skin Horse. “You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”

In an effort to both curb the book madness around here, and rotate what I have to read 11 times a day, any book about eggs, chickens, ducks, bunnies or spring is my "Easter decorations" box. 

This week I read Peanut The Velveteen Rabbit for the first time. If you haven't read it, go now to the library. Get yourself a copy. It *may* be the most wise look on being broken and loved that exists. Aside from your Bible of course. 

Easter always makes me reflective. 

4 years ago, on that day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, we brought home the Peanut. 

On the quiet day. That day of silence between the Crucifixion on the cross and the Resurrection from the tomb. 

Fitting. For those of you know our testimony, you know that Peanut is my GAP baby. Despite the toddler mom discussion at the park, she is neither a surprise nor an "oops." She is very much a piece of my walk. She has been prayed for and lived in my heart long before she lived in my arms. 

There's that moment where you hold your breath and you hope. 

Did they watch the tomb and hope? 

As I think of the whole Easter story, that day of silence fascinates me the most. The day of darkness. Before the light. 

The day of quiet. 

That day of quiet makes me think of our journey here on earth. 

The Velveteen Rabbit teaches us that to be real is a gift. It's to be broken and wounded. It's to be all used up. To be poured out. To love. To be loved. 

"When you are Real, you don't mind being hurt." 

If it's for His glory, we shouldn't mind being hurt. 

Being broken. 

Being mended in Him. 

Becoming Real. 

It takes time to become Real. 

It takes sacrifice. Surrendering. 

It takes believing on the quiet day that the Resurrection is coming. 

Mama Warriors, we can stay in our pretend realm of perfect. Shiny. Avoiding disappointment, despair, challenges. 

Or we can CHOOSE to become Real. Used up. Poured out. Tattered and worn. 

Beloved by Him. 

Believing that being Real is worth it.