This is me just before our closing.
Well here I am. It is 1:42 am and I cannot sleep. Tomorrow I am buying a salon, like the kind that has customers and everything.
I am almost 40. The bearing children season is likely over. I have 6 children with me. My husband and I have a thriving ministry. And I am buying a salon tomorrow. I am still sort of surprised.
How did I get here?
Two years ago I was 6 weeks out from burying my son, Azaiah. I wanted to climb in the grave. But I didn’t. I wanted to leave this earth and follow him to heaven. But I couldn’t.
I wasn’t invited on Azaiah’s journey. God made that clear to me. Not yet.
I fought and clawed my way to survive the first six months. I didn’t want to get dressed. I didn’t want to shower. I didn’t want to comb my hair or brush my teeth.
Then one day God said, embrace beauty. I put on lipstick that day. It felt good.
God said over and over embrace beauty. I embraced it. I fixed my hair. I bought new clothes. I wore more lipstick. Because the truth is my son is not dead. He is alive. And I am still alive to and I need to act like it.
The last two years have been filled with faith multiplying experiences. I learned to weather the storm. Then God said, “Now, get out of the boat.”
Get out of your comfort. Get out of your house. Get out of yourself. Embrace beauty.
Then God said, do it in a salon.
But Lord, really? I don’t know anything about the salon business. I mean from plumbing to keeping the books, I know nothing.
Its OK. You will learn. Embrace beauty.
I am afraid to it do alone.
You won’t be. This time your husband will stand by you. He will be the instrument of my provision and protection. Follow him.
Ok Lord how do I get the money?
Trust me. You knock on doors until someone says yes.
I did and someone finally said yes!
In just a few hours I will officially get out of the boat. I will embrace beauty. I am buying a salon. I will dedicate this season of my life to helping other women embrace beauty too. I will help them embrace beauty when they are over worked. I will help them embrace beauty when they are sick with cancer. I will help them to embrace beauty when they are lonely, grieving, tired and struggling. We are women. We are made in the image of a God who does beauty well. In fact, he is beauty. And so, as daughters made in his image, we will take that piece of God that is within us and shine. We will shine our beauty in an ugly world. We will take our beauty to comfort others and give life. We will be captivating.
