A Message on Faithfulness

Kate and Carla have experienced life-changing events that's caused them to look at life from a place of service. However, they don't feel good enough. Some things come easier than others and it's getting frustrating to do the work they know they need to do. What can they do? How do they get through this phase?

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“I don’t know if I’m doing a good job."

"It’s been 6 months and my work has improved, but that’s to be expected. I mean I went to beauty school for goodness sake", Kate muttered

"I just. I really wanted to be good at the speaking part by now!” 

"Carla has that down...and her customers are the better for it. You should see this lady, she obviously went through a stint of domestic violence. And Carla just...oh my gosh... I wish I could be that. The whole reason I decided to do this was to speak over these women. To encourage them. I try, but I feel like I’m struggling with the words, Iris.”, Kate dismayed. She was sat by her opened window as she did every Wednesday to meet with her coach. It had been a long year and coach Iris had been there for her. Even as early as after the accident. 18 months ago, Kate was in the hospital with her leg broken in four place. A result of a reckless life of drinking and partying. It was a car accidient. There were three of them, and all she remembers was a truck and a tree. Being alive was a miracle and she wanted to make it count. God had shown her mercy in a way she had never known and she was too in awe of him not to respond to his love for her. 

“I want to make an impact, Iris, but I feel like I’m still struggling with the basics too long”, Kate said.

Iris understood Kate. She had a big heart, but not much patience. Not uncommon for her age, but she had to attack this with a lot of empathy because Kate already puts a lot of pressure on herself.

“Kate, sometimes we don’t see the impact we’re making at the time. But we need to trust God that as we are faithful, He will use it all for His own glory. You just have to keep at it. You never know who's being blessed”, Iris said gently. “Sometimes, you just have to be you and trust that God would use you just as you are. He called you anyway and knew you needed to speak. You might not need to speak like Carla to reach the people He's sent you too."

Kate seemed to ponder for a bit and then sighed,

“Ok Coach. I’ll keep at it. I have to leave now, I’ve got a color appointment in an hour. Pray for me.”, She responded.

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Titi’s hair was one of the busiest salons in East Hollywood, and Carla knew it was only a miracle that got her this job. All she could think about this morning was how she would handle her clients hair. Jolene had incredible thick natural hair, and she wasn't used to doing that texture. Indeed, natural hair was new for her, in many ways than one.

Growing up, all she knew was makeup, jewelry, and feeling beautiful. She had done many a procedure just to be the best looking Chica on the block. That’s what got her in with ex Tony. His crew was it back in La Cienega, and he was the one every girl wanted to be with. Whe he started to pay attention to her, she felt like she had hit the jackpot. A girl like her with Tony Rodriguez. She was on cloud nine. What she didn’t know was that getting Tony to notice her meant being in an abusive relationship. Suffice it to say, surviving that experience triggered a chain of events that ended with her meeting God a profound way. Over the years the Lord had helped her change her perspective on beauty. It was one thing to feel accepted by people, but to be accepted by God was to be truly accepted just as you are. It meant being enough, and she hadn’t known that that was what she needed. She was enough. Her journey had led her here. Beauty wasn’t a bad passion, but it needed to enhance the fact that she was already enough. She wanted to do that for other women, that’s why she took her love for hair and beauty here. Her current client however was a challenge.

“Carla, I loved the way you did the twists lastime, could you add the cunrows at the front first before you twist it this time?”, Jolene said to Carla.

“Jolene, you know I got you” by God’s grace

“Just sit and relax”.

“Alright Carla. Thanks again for your advice on Miguel”, Jolene said a bit emotional.

“I…I had never thought about the whole acceptance thing that way. I really…thanks Carla. Thank you", Jolene continued.

“My pleasure”, Carla whispered.

“It’s always a good thing to look at yourself, and see you. You don't need anybody else to tell you who you are, only Jesus", Carla continued.

Carla turned Jolene's chair towards the mirror. Jolene had her hair in a messy bun, her lashes were long showing a fresh set of extensions and her cheeks were still rosy from the conversation they had. Carla smiled right to her and said “Wow, look at her go”. Jolene’s smile was all Carla needed to push through her nerves. God was going to make this hair beautiful.

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Kate made it for her appointment with 15 mins to spare.

“Hey ladies!” She yelled across the salon.

Every woman and client hollered back their greeting like they had been waiting for her to arrive. Titi’s was like that, a community. She was so happy she made the cut, it was competitive to say the least but so worth it.

She needed to set up her next client’s colors before they came in and the supplies were in the supply room.

Kate dropped off her purse in her locker and found her client’s color in the shelf. She started to unwrap the package when she heard some whispers behind the shelves at the back of the room. 

What was that?

She continued unwrapping trying to ignore it, but the whispers seemed to be getting more intense. She stopped.

Do I need to call someone? What was that?

Summoning some courage, she decided to check on the sound.  It was coming from deep behind the suppy room without much lighting. She slowly approached the end and peaked through the shelves to see the source of the noise.

It was Carla. Sitting on the floor with her hands in her face. Worried, Kate decided to come closer. 

As she approached her she discovered Carla was praying, and it sounded like a prayer Kate would make too. Could it be?

Before Kate could retreat, Carla looked up. 

“Kate?” 

“Hi Carla”, Kate said with a nervous laugh.

“Oh I thought I was alone, no one really comes all the way back here”

“Are you ok?”

“Oh yeah I am, it’s just something I do when I feel like I’m hitting a wall”

Hitting a wall? 

“I was praying for God to give me grace to finish my client’s hair. She has beautiful natural locks and I really want to do right by her”, Carla continued.

“Oh wow Carla, that’s great”, Kate said.

Kate was surprised. Carla seemed to have it all figured out, but I guess she doesn’t.

“Yeah, this is all new for me.. making natural hair. But I’m really just doing it in faith, so I come here to draw some strength in prayer. It’s the only way I can do what I do", Carla continued.

“I have to say Carla, I think I needed to see you here this morning. I've been struggling with some of my work too. You seem really good at speaking to your clients and I feel like I stutter so much, I’m not sure if I’m helping them.”, Kate said.

Carla laughed a little bit. “I was once there too, what really has helped me is this right here, surrendering myself to God because I don’t think I can do the work either, but I can through Him. It’s really a realization that we won’t ever be sufficient by ourselves but we can be through Him. I’ve learned that if I psych myself out by trying to do things myself I can’t ever be faithful, but I can be if I submit myself to the Lord who called me in the first place.”

Kate pondered that for a bit.

“So I simply shouldn’t try to do it myself right. I should show up daily in full surrender”.

“Yeap".

"Wow, this helps. I should tell Iris"

"Who's Iris?"

Kate smiled.