The Great Cover Up

What's behind the mask??? Happy, sadness, joy, fear, depression, addiction, lack of self-control? A good day? A bad day?
Most of us are Professional Mask displayers, pretty good at hiding whatever we may be feeling inside. I understand the concept of wearing a mask to cover up your feelings, circumstances often dictate that you have to "get it together" and get back to the job at hand, putting personal feelings/emotions aside. For example, if I am feeling angry or sad, I cannot cry once I am at work, or coming in steaming mad. And if you are a stay at home Mom, you have a little more freedom, but you still should not mope around all day, crying, or in anger, be harsh with your words, attitude or actions. You must have self-control, in essence, putting on a temporary mask...temporary and self-control being the key words here.
Some days, the lack of self-control and the mask just doesn't do it's job and it's nearly impossible to cover up those strong feelings, whether good or bad! If you are over-joyed, it's hard to shorten the long-stretching smile that is plastered across your face. If you are deeply saddened, it can be very difficult to hold back the tears, even though the red, puffy eyes are our first indicator to the rest of the world something is wrong.
Where we get into trouble, in my layman's opinion, is when we place a mask on for the purpose of hiding or hindering our feelings not only to others but to ourselves as well. Hiding as in permanently covering up, ignoring, masking the emotions and thoughts in avoidance of dealing with them, especially in the face of others.
Wearing a mask is something we all do, men and women, young and old to some point or another. It is important that we do not weld the mask on! Honestly dealing with how we feel is healthier to our body, mind and spirit than allowing stress to rage inside. Anything left boiling inside will eventually boil over and burn you, possibly those around you too.
Sure, it may be seemingly easier to wear the proverbial mask, but it is not truthful living and God's Word tells us that "the truth will set you free." Real freedom comes from being real which results from truthfulness.
If circumstances dictate you temporarily place a mask on, them do what you have to do. Just be careful that it comes off as soon as possible so that the emotions and feelings can be acknowledged and dealt with. If you need to grab a girlfriend, then get a message to her and grab a tissue and some coffee and meet up. God gives us eachother to love, encourage, mentor each other. Venting out the feelings, good or bad, helps them release their intensity (assuming your friend is a trusted friend and there to love and not feed into the situation) and often hearing you say it out loud can bring healing and even new perspective. Friends are good at that too-fresh perspective!
So, how do we avoid welding a mask on? By simply not ignoring your thoughts and feelings. Take them to the Lord and cast your cares upon Him. If you need a friend, mentor or accountability partner, then ask God for one and He will guide you to just the right person at just the right time. Then it will be up to you to open the gift He's given you for that moment.
So what do you do if you realize your mask has been welded on? Here is a starter kit...to help you begin the process of removal.

Mask Removal Starter Kit
God's Word- provides truth and healing. It is to be read, researched and applied to fresh skin and/or wounded areas.
Prayer- application used to remove glue or metal.
Friends-Help/Support. Guides you to stay on task; encourages you to remain steadfast and strong when you tire out or are discouraged; partners with you to handle larger tasks you may encounter; avaialble to assist in the disposal of the mask despite size or weight of mask; helps to apply God's Word for healing/medication.
Others- blessing and distraction. Get outside self and be blessed by blessing another. Receive comfort from comforting another. Learn and teach others how to use the Mask Removal Starter Kit.

For additional information on the Mask Removal Starter Kit, you can contact Michele B. Dickerson, CEO and Founder of M.R.M. (Mask Removal Ministries, LLC) at 1-888-NO-MASKS.