My name is Mia, and I’ve been invited to write posts for this beyond awesome blog (can you tell I’m excited?)! Just one problem- I’m kind of new to this sort of thing. I actually happen to be a fiction writer by nature, which also implies I’m a bit of a nerd as well. I’ll be honest with you- I have a real fixation on superheroes in particular.
There’s just something about a good guy swooping in and saving the day- all without ever revealing his true identity. Although you might never know who the person is, you know he (or she) is a good person by their actions. Hence, the age-old cliché of “actions speak louder than words.”
Both the good guys and the bad guys typically wear masks. But you can always tell them apart. Have you ever thought about how strange that is? The good guys and the bad guys are rarely confused with each other. Why do you think that is? Now, I may be wrong, but I think I know why. The good guys do good things just to do good things; not for the recognition. Well, that and the fact the bad guys are usually robbing banks and taking over the world…
Of course, there are a few exceptions to that, but mainly, that’s the case with all of the true heroes. You know what I mean by “true heroes”- those heroes are the ones we look up to and admire. And when it comes down to it, it doesn’t matter that they wear a mask, you know they are the good guys. It is not questioned.
But here’s my (long in coming) point: would we really be okay with hiding our identity in everyday life? Now, don’t get me wrong- be yourself. Always. Let me tell you from personal experience- keeping a façade up 24/7 can get really exhausting. It’s simply not healthy. But what I mean by “hiding our identity” is not doing things for show. I’ll be the first to admit it- getting credit is nice. I like the recognition and the applause and the pats on the back. Those are lovely rewards.
But in Matthew 6: 1-4, Jesus warns us against doing things for show. Often, if we’re honest with ourselves, the things we do in show are shallow. They’re done as a ploy to help our image or our reputation, and not as sincere acts of kindness or generosity. And although they definitely do make us look good, God does not reward things that are done in selfishness or insincerity.
But He does reward things that we simply do out of the “goodness of our hearts.” The things we do simply to help someone out. The good we do just because it is good. And God has better rewards, sisters. He sees the things we do in secret, and often, those are the things we’ve done just because.
Ladies, I truly believe there is a little bit of hero in all of us. And even if we don’t get to run around wearing capes (but if you ever get the chance, it’s actually very fun), we can let that hero show. You don’t have to perform a spectacular act of courage or anything to do that either. The little things matter, my friends. They matter most of all.
In Christian love,
Mia
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