by Denna Ochs

Created on: October 13, 2009

The Reflection

Looking at my reflection in the lake, I saw my entire life's journey depicted in my clothes. I was wearing a pair of white, worn out stiletto heels that had been marred by the rough terrain filled with sticks, stones, and sometimes mud. My shoes reminded me that we are not always prepared for what lies ahead of us, but our God is prepared to hold our hand as we uncomfortably travel onward.

My dress was pure white, but it, too, had become worn and tattered. The bottom half of my dress was adorned with layers of blood tinged fabric that reminded me of long, winding roads, representing my struggles along the way. Early in life, I was filled with insecurities, which I found could be soothed along the road of over achievement. Overachieving, which was camouflaged as approval seeking, led me to the next road of being the best, having the most, and concentrating on self alone-something better known as pride. Pride, which is a wide all encompassing road, led me onward to dysfunctional relationships that resulted in betrayal ultimately leading me to the road of anger. Anger made me detour to bitterness, which eventually left me on the dead end road of despair. As the roads disappear, the next eye-catching part of my dress is the humble golden cross placed in the center, directly above life's roads or the blood tinged fabric. The cross resembles a road sign pointing upward-life's right way or perhaps it represents a bridge connecting two very different roads together-sin and salvation. This cross helps to join my dress to my headdress, the crown of jewels that is sitting upon my head.

Each jewel represents a lesson learned from each traveled road. Beginning with the savior jewel, I discovered that I am a child of God and He is in control, not me. I have become secure in the fact that He is my protector, my provider, my healer, and my everlasting love. Second is the jewel of contentment; I realized that He knows who I really am and I don't have to earn His love or His approval nor do I need worry about what others think for He is my only judge. Next is the jewel of charity; I found out that giving to others is far more satisfying than stockpiling material things for myself; building relationships with others is more fulfilling than self-absorption. Then, I have the jewel of forgiveness for confronting all of the betrayal in my life, eliminating the anger and replacing it with love. Next, is the jewel of acceptance for letting go of the bitterness and recognizing

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