A Saturday afternoon sitting down to write a blog, been over a year. And this is what prompted me to do so…

Yesterday when I got off work, I decided on a whim to treat myself to my new fav place to eat. CAVA. It was only my third time there and it is and was delightful. Seriously such a fun flavor ride. Anyways… while eating I was like Mandy, let’s go get your hair cut. (The boys were out together, Hubby and Son having dinner and a movie at home after.) It had been about 6 months since my last cut at least and it was kinda like a lions main at this point. I got on my phone, found the location and made the next available time which was like 30 minutes from that moment. I finished my delicious meal, got in my car and off I went excited for a refresh. Mom’s you know how it is when you do for kids, family etc. and then you finally treat yourself.. YUP that was this moment.

I pull up go in and a older woman very nice comes up with shiny fake jewelery and snazzy clothes. She quickly said “Oh, you are with me and in good hands. I used to work for Elizabeth Arden before covid. I went and studied in Paris and France for my schooling.” I was kinda excited like oh wow, she must be amazing. I told her what I wanted and repeated it more than once in more than one way so I could be sure I would get just what I wanted.

There was the biggest pile of hair on the floor. She blew dried my hair, it was a treat- as I usually do more natural and wavy, it makes getting ready not as long each day… Well it didn’t look so bad first glance in the chair. The front view makes it not look too bad. Drove home already noticing boy so much hair is gone. Got home and looked in my bathroom mirror, the sides, the back… and dang… it’s horrid!! Like it is wack. I immediately saw a blue mini van from back in the day with the wood strip down the side. You know the one.. that is what I felt like, and it looked nothing like ME. Spent many moments last night and this morning crying.

Then while texting a friend to vent and feel sorry for myself, the Holy Spirit showed me a picture of dead branches that were cut off. It was mirroring mylife. A spiritual parallel. I will not mourn for the pieces of hair anymore. I will instead step into the uncomfortable new. I do feel exposed and naked.

So many things happening here. She had these “great” credentials as do many Christians. Titles and plaques and degrees and all the decor and clothing to match. But when you are not led by the Spirit all those credentials mean squat. They are merely decorations on a dead Christmas Tree. Not knocking knowledge at all. We should KNOW and consume the Word of God, but personally and a in a Living Water type of way and not in memorization only. Without being led by the Spirit is is just an empire self built and not KINGDOM. Don’t be impressed by titles and follow blindly. Be led by the Spirit of God.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge HIM, and HE will make straight your paths.

I should have did more research when getting my hair cut. I know many who are able to do a fantastic job, but I made a quick decision and acted on it. I could have even prayed on it. But I did a- “just do it’ thing.

Now the hair that is gone makes me feel uncomfortable as I mentioned before. I hide behind my lions mane. It kinda gives me security. But it is now gone. And I have to figure out how to do it to embrace the dead branches gone and allow new growth to come. Just like my life.

Currently praying on confronting an area that will bring a lot of growth and healing mentally and spiritually when plucked out by the root. I trust GOD. I know HE is making my paths straight. I will remember what HE has already done in Me, and know that this too, will be an area HE walks me through when “I trust in the Lord.”

John 15:1-6 (AMP)

Jesus Is the Vine—Followers Are Branches

15 “^[a]I am the true Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit]. ³ You are already clean because of the word which I have given you [the teachings which I have discussed with you]. ⁴ Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me. ^5 [b]I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.⁶ If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken off] branch, and withers and dies; and they gather such branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.