"Every part of me is beautiful. I can't finally see, I'm a work of art, a masterpiece."
Jazmine Sullivan is one of the dopest voices of our time. Her rich, melodic, true alto tone, is often slept on and underappreciated. Jazmine’s inspiring creation "Masterpiece", is an anthem for women and girls that we certainly cannot ignore. The imagery of a woman's awakening is painted through her majestic lyrics. You can hear the cries of confidence being stirred up in her spirit at the introduction of the song. With attentive ears, we take in the blossoming experience of a women who has grown to accept herself, and is now aware of her worth and glory, as Jazmine so profoundly puts it.
The Kolinsky Sable haired brush plunged into bold brown and orange tones
Robust strokes against my canvas call forth the image of my being
His hand played the essential part
The only hand that mattered, alpha
He knew me
He saw me
He composed me
His masterpiece
His work of art
Kasai Marie
The Mona Lisa is often referred to as a masterpiece. This splendorous body of art, illustrated through the gifting’s of Leonardo da Vinci, is also considered by some, to be the most well-known painting of our time. Many have even gone as far to claim that the Mona Lisa is the ultimate work of art. The most intriguing resolution that grew within me while conducting my research about the painting, must be the undeniable fact that the woman in the painting and her story are still a mystery. After watching documentaries and reading articles, I found that while societies and cultures around the world are captivated by the women in the painting, her complete story and identity even remain a mystery. How interesting is it that we easily find beauty, value even, in a woman we can’t even factually identify? Yet many of us look in the mirror every day, knowingly aware of our own being and can’t find enough worth within ourselves to save our lives?
Are you aware that you are a masterpiece in your own right? Are you aware of the glory that dwells within you as a woman? I'm sure, without a shadow of a doubt that I heard that I was fearfully and wonderfully made, hundreds of times growing up. Being told your beautiful and handpicked by God is one thing, but truly believing it is another. Where along our lives paths did we stop being aware of the intentional beautiful strokes of God’s hand in our creation?
For me, as I am sure for most of you, it may have begun the first time your beauty, intelligence or worth was questioned. When it was silenced. When it was broken. For some, this happens in the form of physical and emotional abuse. For others, it may occur through the experience of bullying. For me, it began in elementary school. I was bullied as early as I can remember up until my senior year of high school. To be honest, after watching the infectious series Thirteen Reasons Why, I found my high school experience to be parallel to that of Hannah Baker’s. If you haven't had time to check out this series on Netflix, I encourage you to check it out asap. It’s no secret that our peers can be so cruel. Honestly, even our family members can be incredibly cruel. No person is exempt from falling short, and damaging another person’s dignity. Hurt people come in many forms, shapes and affiliations, and there’s no need to remind you, what hurt people do. Regardless of who it is that may have hurt you, and how they went about it, they used their own fragmented brushes and forced smeared strokes of insignificance and brokenness to dismantle the truth that resides within. Breaking the vocal chords of the inner voice screaming and pleading you’re worth it, you’re worth it. Ever tarnishing and belittling the beautiful work of art that God intended you to be.
Ladies, when do we heal? When do we fight to hear that cry within our spirit again? Everyone’s journey is different. No life path mirrors another identically. Even still knowing this, I am confident that we each come to a point in our lives where we have a decision to make. As my girl, Sandra Oh, in one of my favorite movies Under The Tuscan Sun puts it, “We all come to a crossroad.” Are you there? Can you feel the voice inside crying out to be free from the shadows of doubt that may consume you? Free from the bondage of brokenness and shattered self-confidence?
Jazmine Sullivan offers an exquisite set of lyrics in her second verse of her self-love anthem claiming,
“Who is this I've tried so long to fight?
Filling my heads with lies that I'm not good enough
Then I heard something in my ear
Tell me I'm perfect, now that I know the truth
Time to show and prove”
The realness and undeniable voice within you speaks clearly when it’s time to shift into a new version of yourself. A whole version of yourself. Remember that even snakes shed dead skin. Your time to show and prove is now. Now wait a minute! Instead of focusing on showing and proving your growth and new found awareness to the world, shift that energy inward. Show yourself, that you are everything that embodies a masterpiece. Prove to yourself that you can do the work that is required to love and accept yourself again. Heal within and watch the beauty radiate outwardly. When the awareness and desire to grow creeps and plants in your spirit, there is a shift of responsibility for your healing to begin. No longer can you rely on the story of your hurt and the actions of the people in your past to keep you in bondage. You are now in the position to forgive, heal and love.
This month, join me on the continuation of the journey to wholeness. Wholeness of self. Too often we find ourselves searching for the same fragmented brushes and individuals to complete the work of art we are trying to bring to fruition. Your canvas has already been destined for greatness because you belong to the King. I believe that the gift of free will is our extension of his brush. That we have been given the freedom to turn our choices into strokes on our canvas. Choices that continue to cultivate the masterpiece that God has intended us to become. What will your strokes on your canvas, rather, your choices look like within these next 29 days? Maybe, simply start by becoming aware. Aware of your existence, and what you would like to begin healing and working on. Step after step, stroke after stroke working within on your canvas. I am confident, that like me, you will see the work of art, the masterpiece within you take its rightful place. Walk in your rays. Be not ashamed.
He Has Made Everything beautiful in it's time - Ecclesiastes 3:11
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