By Emily Saunders

Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

A few weeks ago I shared this post about my journey through 2nd trimester miscarriage and later finding out our baby girl had Trisomy 18.  I was completely overwhelmed by the kind messages, notes, comments, emails and more that I received from so many of our followers. What an amazing group of women!

One thing that struck me is how many women shared that they had been through something similar but they had not been brave enough or felt strong enough to share.  Some women even shared that they felt ashamed after losing a child.  They applauded me for being open and transparent and real.

This got me thinking…. why do these beautiful women who love Jesus feel that they can’t or shouldn’t share their broken pieces?  Why do we feel that as Christian women our image needs to be “perfect” all the time?

One of the goals of Momsanity is to be real all the time.   We are not one of those “try harder, do more, all pretty all the time” types of brands.  While it’s sometimes terribly difficult to put ourselves out there, we feel that’s exactly what God wants and the world needs.

I think sometimes as Christians we feel an incredible pressure to pretend our lives are perfect.  We love Jesus so everything is always ok.  We hide in secrecy the things that aren’t shiny and pretty.  We feel like we can depend upon God alone to pull us through.  While I absolutely agree with this, I feel that when we are hurting, we NEED the love of His people.

In my opinion this is Satan trying to pry himself in.  He’s keeping our broken pieces away from God’s people who ALL have broken pieces.   Sometimes without the love and counsel of the Godly we can become angry, bitter, ask “why me” and much more.  I’m not saying those emotions are bad- we all have them- but when we begin to dwell in those dark places all alone we become more broken.  We don’t allow God to heal us.  Healing can take a long time for sure, but God shows up through His people time and time again.

When tragedy strikes I urge you to be transparent.  Let God work in you and through you by sharing.  Don’t allow pride or guilt or shame or any other emotion prevent you from doing so.  Allow yourself to release those burdens. Whether it’s a failing marriage, infertility, a pregnancy loss, or a struggle with sin- God doesn’t ask us to bear it alone.  Not only will HE save our crushed spirits, but he’ll use His people to help.

Your friends KNOW you don’t want them to feel sorry for you- you hurt and that causes those who love you to hurt too.  We are called to carry one another’s burdens, so let His people serve you.  Allow friends to bring you meals and love on you and take you to do fun things.    Accept with gratitude the gifts that God provides through those who love Him.

1 John 4: 11 and 12 tell us:  Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.  No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.  Maybe sometimes ACCEPTING the gift of that love is also an act of worship.

We can’t be “the church” when we live life alone.  Share your story.  God has someone who needs to hear it and someone else whose arms are ready to wrap around you.  Like the beautiful song by Casting Crowns tells us…. maybe we’re just supposed to be broken together.