Things Are Not Always What They Seem!

Layla & Mitch are childhood friends! They go almost everywhere together, shopping, church, the movies. The two communicate all the time about everything, in addition to being in each other's face all the time, they are texting & talking on the phone & messaging on Facebook & email as if it were going out of style soon. They are quite comfortable with each other, it's almost as if their friendship is too good to be true!
On their way back from a nice long drive, lights flashed behind them. Mitch pulled over & the flashing lights zoomed pass. "Whew! What a relief, I thought they were after us", Layla said with a sigh of relief. "Why would they be after us, princess? We haven't done anything wrong! I just got the car out of the shop & I made sure the busted tail light was repaired before we hit the road. I'll never put you in harms way sweetie", Mitch explained. Layla smiled, reclined in her seat & they went back to singing.
Layla clapping her hands said, "Ooooh, that's my song! Mitch, can you turn it up a little please? Give Him your all, He want's it all." Mitch pressed the down button on the steering wheel & began to serenade Layla. "I want it all, give ME your all, because there's somethin' 'bout your love, that makes me weak & knocks me off my feet...I don't wanna bore you with it, oh but I love you, I love you, I love you!" Layla laughed, sat up in her seat & hit Mitch on the arm. "You play too much Mitch, why you turn my song off? Where are we now? I have to be back tomorrow morning so I can get ready for my lunch date! You remember that guy I told you about who asked me out don't you?" Mitch mumbled under his breath, "What if I weren't playing? Um, I mean, we're half way there, maybe another 3 hours & how could I ever forget? Where ya going for lunch, have you decided?" Layla rumbling through her bag for snacks said, "What you over there mumbling about Mitchy? I'm hungry, what shall we eat? I think I have two breakfast bars left in my bag...somewhere, down in here! Um, I told him to surprise me for lunch. HERE THEY ARE! YUMMM! Which flavor do you want, banana nut or oatmeal raisin?" Mitch wonders if he should try to tell Layla how he truly feels about her while they still have a few hours left alone. "I'll take whichever one you don't want, thanks. Listen, Layla, I've been thinking" Layla gasps for air & clutches her chest, "UH OH, you'd better pull over & let me drive! Thinking & driving on an empty stomach is a dangerous combo for you! hahahaha" Layla jokes with Mitch all the time. But, this was NOT a joking matter for him. "Layla, I'm serious, I need to tell you something so please just listen. We've been knowing each other since we were little, a lot has happened in our lives & we have been through a lot individually as well as together. I like having you around. You're cool peeps, you're my best friend!" Layla touched his hand & thanked him for the kind words. "Mitch, that's really sweet, but we're so much more than friends...we're family!" Mitch's heart sank to the floor of the car! He pulls over & get's out of the car & paces back & forth holding his head, mumbling to himself! Layla's not sure what the heck is going on so she stays in the car shouting out of the window asking him what is wrong. "FAMILY LAYLA? Is that how you see us, like...brother & sister family? Because, I see us as husband & wife family Layla! I have loved you since we were kids! I take you every where you need to go, I move your heavy furniture, I massage your feet after you've worked hard, I even try to cheer you up when some goofy disappoints you after only a couple of dates! I've seen you at your worse Layla & I love you any way! You make me better & I wanna do the same for you. Are you going to tell me you don't know that I have been in love with you all this time?" Layla stares at the floor of the car, confused. "When..how? In love with me? I don't even know what to say Mitch!" "Say that you love me too!"As he jumps in to answer her, she snaps! "How dare you back me into a corner like this? You are so selfish Mitch! I can not believe you! What do you expect me to do now? You're just wrong to bring up all the stuff you've done for me, I know what you've done! Nobody asked you to do all that stuff for me, if you had ulterior motives for doing it then that's on you! I've been there for you too Mitch! I see now, no wonder you're always there no matter what, you've been straight blocking! Ugh! Just get me home please, I've got a date to prepare for! My Mr. Right is out there some where & all this time, you've been here in my life keeping him from finding me! I can't keep letting you you do this to me!" Hurt & shocked at her response, Mitch drives as fast as he can! Layla is still talking, but Mitch can no longer hear her. He cranks up the music & runs a few red lights. He even played chicken with a truck! Speeding out of control, Mitch attempts to beat the freight train ahead! Layla begins to pray, because she is afraid that they won't clear it in enough time! She turns the music off & begs Mitch to stop so that they can talk. Mitch's jaw is clenched & his eyes are watery as he responds, "Talk about what Layla? There is nothing left to talk about! I'm just trying to get you home in time for your date. But, I can tell you how your date will turn out. It'll be a disaster like all the others! He'll say what you want to hear, treat you how you want to be treated & then try to sleep with you! Then you'll come crying to me, expecting me to make it mo' betta by completing the job you wouldn't let him finish. That's how it always ends!" Tears streaming down Layla's face, she turns to Mitch & asks "is that how you see it? You think I wanted you to finish the job? NO! You took it upon yourself to do that even when I said no! You'd stroke my hair, kiss my forehead & hold me. Then you did what every other man has done, you took advantage of the situation & you took advantage of me! You know how I feel about that, but selfish is all you know how to be! Then you tried to manipulate my mind trying to get me to believe that you would never hurt me. You'd whisper apology after apology, tell me you love me, take me on a trip or buy me something nice, then do the same thing again. It was what I knew! It was wrong, but I let it become my comfort zone! A familiar spirit! Sad part about it is, I let you! Well, NO MORE! I won't ever let you do that to me again! You're not my friend! You were only out to satisfy your own lustful desires!" Mitch puts the car in park, gets out & yells, "ARE YOU SERIOUS LAYLA? HOW COULD YOU ACCUSE ME OF BEING SELFISH? EVERYTHING I'VE DONE, I DID TO MAKE YOU HAPPY!" Pacing, Mitch is upset & beside himself, Layla's head is hurting & she feels sick to her stomach so she gets out of the car & begins to walk. "YOU CAN'T MAKE ANYONE HAPPY! YOU CAN ONLY ADD TO THEIR HAPPINESS! YOU HAVE TRIED TO CONTROL ME, THINKING THAT ALL THE STUFF YOU DID WAS GOING TO MAKE ME WANT TO BE WITH YOU! THAT'S WRONG & THOSE DAYS ARE OVER! MY LOVE IS NOT FOR SALE! WHEN WE GET BACK HOME, THAT'S IT, I CAN'T TAKE ANYMORE! I'M GIVING YOU ALL OF YOUR STUFF BACK! I DON'T WANT TO OWE YOU ANYTHING!" Mitch becomes enraged, "WHAT ABOUT MY TIME, LAYLA, CAN YOU GIVE ME BACK MY TIME? YOU ARE SO UNGRATEFUL! DO YOU THINK I'M GOING TO JUST LET YOU BREAK UP WITH ME AFTER ALL OF THIS TIME? WE ARE MEANT TO BE TOGETHER!" With a look of surprise on Layla's face, she interrupts, "let me break up with you? Meant to be together? Okay, it's official, you're crazy! Let's just calm down! I'm going to drive the rest of the way!" Mitch takes the keys out of the ignition. Layla stands there looking at him. "What are you, twelve? Give me the keys so we can go!" Mitch gets in driver's seat, starts up the car & pulls off a little bit. He keeps doing it as Layla runs trying to get in. She finally gets in, "it's something wrong with you for real! The train is almost finished. I can be home in about an hour or so. Right?" Mitch can't believe his ears. "Are you still gonna try to meet up with dude? Is that why you're in such a hurry Layla?" At this point, Layla just wants to make sure she gets home safe & in one piece. "Mitch, I'm just drained & ready to lay in my bed that's all. It doesn't matter if I am going or not, I'm a single woman. You are a single man & free to see whomever you like. Our friendship was all a lie! Now that I see the truth, I'm not putting myself in this position anymore. When we get home, you're going your way & I'm going mine. You can't force me to be in your life." Mitch does not like what he is hearing, he believes that he is supposed to spend the rest of his life with Layla. "I'm not going anywhere, neither are you! We'll be together forever!" Layla looks at Mitch & sees a look she's never seen before. Mitch speeds up & angrily tells Layla, "SAY YOU LOVE ME! TELL ME YOU LOVE ME & ONLY ME! YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO BE WITH THOSE OTHER GUYS AGAIN! WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE REST OF OUR LIVES TOGETHER LAYLA!" She screams, "I can't tell you this, because I don't feel the same way you do! Stop yelling at me! We can talk this out, just calm down. Mitch, SLOW DOWN!" Mitch grabs her arm & looks at her with tears streaming down his face. "Let go of my arm Mitch! YOU'RE HURTING ME! MITCH, STOP IT! OH MY GOD, LOOK OUT!!!" Driven by lust, jealousy & anger, Mitch crashed! Although it appeared to be the perfect friendship, it was not! Somethings are not what they seem! This is an example of an unhealthy relationship. 
This story is fiction, but this sort of thing does exist & it's sad, because you can't make someone love you! Communication is key! Tell people how you truly feel & if the feelings aren't mutual then just move on! Some people need to seek professional help & don't know it, or maybe they do know it & just choose to ignore that fact! Some people give too much of themselves to a person & that could be confusing or misleading.
BE CAREFUL! COMMUNICATE PROPERLY! GUARD YOUR MIND! 
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Proverbs 4:23-24.
         


Have you told someone that you love & appreciate them? Always remember that THANK YOU makes room for more!

Struggles Revealed

She clasped her hands together, silent worries trying to become prayers, tears rolled down her face...her mind thought "I started way too soon, what am I going to do? Who will help me through? Time is running out for me to decide! Must I run & hide? Can I hold out again? Maybe I should give in & call my friend!" As she sat, though uncertain, she wrote a few things down & noticed that she began to feel better. People walking in the park where the air is brisk, the sky is bluish gray, her laptop on her lap & journal in hand along with her favorite writing pen. "God, I think I need to trust you more. All of this worrying has me looking tired, feeling drained & I have no energy to do the things You've called me to do! Nor the things I love to do! Why does it turn out wrong when you give me "guy" assignments? Why do they always fall head over heels in love with me? Life seems so complicated! I tell them we are just friends, we share Your word, we pray, we confide in one another & then BAM! Is it the love bug or the lust demon? I feel like I am more than one person inside! There is the part of me who is confident in the gifts You've placed in me, there's the me who is afraid to step out there & BE, there is the me who could care less about what people think & then there is the me who wants to be accepted, admired & loved. I know what You've called me to, there is not just one thing, there are many assignments. This one is the most challenging!"
She slips into third person character whenever she is nervous!
"Can she be real Lord & just talk to you openly? You're the only one who can judge her, but You don't & she is so thankful for that! She feels plain, yet sensual. She KNOWS the damage she can do so she chooses to stay inside. She has times when she wants to pounce & control, then other times when she is well balanced & in tune with You. She'd like to know if she needs to separate the two? Is that even possible? When she comes out to play, it can be very dangerous, but fun! She...I mean, I am tired of being all over the place! Calm my heart, still my racing mind, I can't afford to be all over the place Lord! There is too much at stake!" She wrote desperately.
She sat until dusk, cold, but wrapped up in her favorite sweater, scarf & mittens with the fold back flap exposing her cut gloves & finger tips. Hungry, but more thirsty for the things God has in store for her! So she continues to write. She chases Him all the more! She feels more comfortable, so she attempts to drop writing in third person.
"Maybe if I had more consistent friends or new friends or no friends all together...maybe it's not them at all, maybe it's me? Let me do the best examination & perform a self examination! NO! I've already picked out everything that could be wrong with me!" POINT OUT THE GOOD! "Huh? Who said that?" Looking around she realized no one was around her, yet she heard it clear as day & decided to give it a try. "Removing my compact to see who is looking back at me so I can tell her what I see. Girl, look at those worry lines in your forehead & you could stand for an eyebrow waxing! Lubricate those lips honey, they are too full not to be looking luscious! And that hair, do something with it!" POINT OUT THE GOOD! "Huh? WHO'S THERE...UM, HERE?" She quickly slammed the mirror shut! Opening the mirror slowly, she glanced inside, then stared blankly as her eyes filled with tears.
"I see me, the slant of of my eyes chosen by God to see me the way He created me to be! My tears turn from sorrow to bliss, all because God took time to show me this! Not looking with natural eyes only, but spiritual ones too, looking inside of me...I SEE YOU! I see a heart that loves hard, eyes that see deeply, a mind that is smart! I see a smile that is huge & a laugh that comes from the gut! I see joy where pain used to live, so obvious, I can see it with my eyes opened shut! So much attention & many compliments to devour, but the date goes sour before the final hour. Guilt, condemnation then the repentance follows conviction. Now we barely even speak & when we do there is friction! What is inside of me that draws this type of attention? I feel like a temtpress like the Bible mentions. How can I expect him to respect me enough to wait if I place myself out there, open, on a silver plate? Is it a sin to be a hot mama? No, just don't destroy the witness with that premarital sex drama! I can't help it! I'm mushy & a hopeful romantic, marriage is a ministry that makes me all frantic! The opposite sex attracts, I know this for a fact! But, I choose to wait by holding on to celibacy, LORD HELP ME to be smudge free, no more fingerprints all over me! Not saying it's easy to wait, but I have to hold on to my faith! Can self love be justified by saying at least I didn't involve him this time? NO, but I tried. The enemy lied! The one who comes to steal, kill & destroy...that grim reaper, BUT THANK YOU JESUS, I'VE FOUND YOU TO BE MY KEEPER! I CAN be sexy without acting sex-u-al, I desire LOVE not lust, that's my golden rule! God made me this way for a reason & I WILL ENJOY IT, TO THE FULL, IN MY DUE SEASON! Until then, my sensuality is on hold for my king, he'll find me doing God's will & then present me with a ring. I'm more than just a coochie, I'M WORTH WAITING FOR, I finally, for myself know this is TRUE! When he asks me, with a smile, I'll gladly say I DO!
I like you...the ME I SEE, I love looking into the me that God has created me to be! Free 2 be ME & like what I see! Now that's an awesome testimony! The girl in the mirror, where it all begins, the girl in the mirror is also where it ends!"

How do you see yourself? JUST BE REAL!!!


 
Have you told someone that you love & appreciate them? Always remember that THANK YOU makes room for more!