Beneath the Flowers Podcast

*Disclaimer* I am not a bible teacher or pastor, I did not go to seminary or bible college. I’m just a grace gifted woman redeemed from the law being used by God to spread the good news :)Core message of this live: remember the promise, silence the lawGod is sovereign and cannot lie. Jesus was in the wilderness with the Israelites too.His promise to Abram, 430 years before the law was given to Moses, is complete in Christ Jesus.The Law is there to show us that we cannot do life without God. That we are sinners and the weight of our sin is too much to carry on our own. How many laws and rules were there? Yes, life outside of Christ is actually a lot. Full of works. Before Christ, the law was our guardian— God’s plan to keep us blameless/sinless until He sent Jesus.Jesus Christ calls people "workers of lawlessness" in Matthew 7:21-23, when they rely on their own works (such as performing miracles or preaching) rather than a genuine relationship with Him and obedience to God's will. He declares, "I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness"Lawlessness = no reverence for the law. i.e., sinners.The law has a purpose in God’s plan.The work we, born again believers who are grafted into the promise by faith, have to do is believe and remember our identity in the promise. Sons and daughters of God.With Christ living on the inside of us, changing our character, desires, outlook on life, we no longer need to be up under the law. We are less inclined to sin. We are made new, and are being made new daily. Yes, both are true. Our soul is no longer ours. It belongs to the Lord. He is our shepherd and the daily bread nourishing us— continually, until the end of the age. Key verses:* Genesis 15, when God gave Abram the promise seed * Exodus 16, focus in on 31 - 35. The test God gave is also the law.* Galatians 3:15-29 Christ as fulfillment of the promise* Romans 7 and 8For more deep dives like this, consider subscribing for free below. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beneaththeflowers.substack.com/subscribe

God,I don’t know what to say..I’ve been having conversations with friends about the current state of the world and what it means for our future generations. In having those conversations, I’ve experienced grief, sadness, anger, hope. I know it won’t always be this way. I want to do something. I don’t want to be a sitting duck. So, I write. I read. I create by Your grace. I try my best to remind myself and others to put on love, above all else—to focus on the heart of Christ, so our hearts might begin to look like Yours. But somehow, I feel like a drop in an ocean of noise. I don’t question my worth or the impact of the Holy Spirit coursing through my veins. However, I do wonder what it would be like if we, collectively, just paused for a moment—one inhale and one exhale. To remember the source of the breath in our lungs.To remember the love of Genesis 1.No, I’m not trying to escape. I see, I hear and can discern the times we’re in. But what would it be like if we all just took a moment to rememberthat we are to love our brother,our neighbor,our friend?Love. Not the fabricated kind, or the kind that thrives in an aesthetic.Love that tells the truth.Love wrapped in compassion.Love that holds both sides accountable.Love. Not the cutesy kind—though that has its place too.But the kind that speaks to the outcasts and the ones far away.Love that sets the table for a Passover meal with a few unhoused friends—stepping into their world for just a moment. Listening. Praying for their journey ahead. Allowing space for humanity and honesty.So I pray.I pray that though we may not have a solution,we don’t become the very thing we’re fighting against.My heart cries, in a way only You could hear. I feel it before I even understand it—a tightening in my chest.Like a quiet, internal wringing,with nowhere for the insides of my heart to go.Pressure builds in my chest,like a volcano waiting to erupt from my eyesas I make my tea.There, at my kitchen counter—waiting for the kettle to whistle,pouring hot water over these loose leaves.Feet bound to the cold wood floor beneath me.Spiraling through a future I can feelbut can’t yet see.I couldn’t hold it back anymore.With groanings too deep for words.Not spoken.Still understood.Without notice, prayers flow from my eyes—running down my cheeks.Salty enough to preserve the moment. No need to suppress.You already know what’s in my heart.You knew that volcano would erupt one day soon.I’d rather stay in this moment than run from it.Stay hereand let You finish the work You started in my heart.Bring clarity to my mind.I don’t need words to describe the way my skin tightens when I know You’re here— how, from the weight of Your presence, I must cover my face. I won’t run away from you, God.I need You.I lay all of this at Your feet.You said to remember You are with us until the end of the age.You left me with that promise. You are with me.You never left me.Whether I’m having conversations with friends, heartbroken over headlines, or standing at the counter making tea while tears fall from my eyes—thank You for this heart of flesh, Lord.On earth, as it is in heaven.You heard every word I couldn’t say.In Jesus’ name,amen.If this met you in a quiet place,you’re welcome to stay.I write for those sitting with God, without rushing the moment. Subscribe for more journal entries, poems, reflections, and essays 🌸 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beneaththeflowers.substack.com/subscribe

Fully saved… but are we fully covered? (No, not by grandmama’s prayers…)Lately, I’ve been thinking about a lot of things. Thought 1: salvation, a free gift.Nothing we have to work for—only a heart surrendered.And yet…what does it meanif there are gaps in the rest of our armor?In Ephesians 6, we’re told to put on the full armor of God:The helmet of salvation.The breastplate of righteousness.The sword of the Spirit.Shoes carrying the gospel of peace.The belt girded in truth.The shield of faith.The helmet of salvation is the first step—vital, but not the only step. It is the doorwayand the covering.It guards the mind,the identity,the assurance.But it is still only one pieceof a full life lived with God.Not the end of the story.Some of us have been walking aroundclothed only in the moment we met Him.Still holding on to the day we said yes,but never stepping into the lifethat yes opened up.He might be calling you deeper in this season…Thought 2: are we really ready for war?Because that is what this is.A real, invisible, daily battle—and yet, the good news:Jesus already won.In Him, we are learning how to standsteady in the authority that is already ours.The helmet of salvation over your headreminds you who leads you,who you belong to,what has already been secured.But what about the rest?The breastplate that forms your heartinto the heart of Christ—steady, aligned, made right with God.The belt of truth holds the whole suit togetherwhen everything feels like it’s unraveling with lies.The shoes that carry you forwardinto a life marked by peace—as an example and an experience.The shield that helps you withstandwhat you didn’t expect.And the sword of the Spiritthe only weapon we’re given—living, sharp, sustaining.Salvation is where you begin.But a secured armoris how you persevere.Maybe the invitation is to finally put onthe rest of what’s already been given.What would it look liketo walk fully covered this week?Maybe tonight, you don’t need to try harderjust noticewhat you’ve left unworn.Thought 3: Manna.I’ll go live on Substack to talk about this one.so stay tuned. ◡̈Thank you for sitting with me beneath the flowers. If my work resonates with you or offers support, I’d be grateful for every like, share, or comment. And if you’d like to support my work further or say a quick thank you, here’s the link to buy me a coffee.I’ll write to you again soon.Always love,ChérieSubscribe to receive new posts and support my writing. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beneaththeflowers.substack.com/subscribe

In dating culture, we know what breadcrumbing means.It’s the slow drip of attention without intention.Just enough to keep you hoping.Not enough to move forward.A text that says “thinking of you” but never makes a plan to see you.Warmth without clarity.Presence without commitment.Breadcrumbing, in relationships, is confusing because it keeps you emotionally invested while withholding direction.And because many of us have been hurt this way, we’ve learned to associate partial revelation with danger.So when God leads us in fragments —when He gives only the next step —it can feel eerily similar.The body keeps the score.The ego tries to protect.And whispers: If I can’t see everything, I’m not safe.But there can be no ego in the presence of a Holy God.Because while people breadcrumb to avoid responsibility,the Holy Spirit “breadcrumbs” to build relationship.subscribe here, I so appreciate your support!Culture’s Breadcrumbing Creates AnxietyIt says:Stay interested, but don’t ask for clarity.Keep hoping, but don’t expect movement.Remain available, but don’t require commitment.It leaves you suspended in uncertainty, carrying the emotional weight alone.And that weight is not light.But this is exactly what Jesus was speaking to when He said:“Come to me, all who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you… For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)When the Spirit leads in fragments, He never hands you the weight of figuring everything out.He carries it.You are only given the step you have grace to take.Holy breadcrumbing does not add pressure.It removes it.And if you’ve lived through that breadcrumbing pattern — in dating, family, or even church spaces — you may have learned this survival instinct:If I don’t see the full picture, I’m not safe.So when God doesn’t tell you the ending,your nervous system can interpret it as abandonment.But Scripture tells a different story.Jesus says: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart — I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)Not: figure it all out.Not: optimize your life plan.Not: control every outcome.Just: Take heart. I have overcome.This isn’t our story we’re trying to perfect.It’s God’s story we’re being invited to walk inside.Holy Spirit Breadcrumbs DifferentlyHe gives:A persistent nudge.A sentence that repeats at random moments of the day.A knowing that feels both small and weighty.Think of Abraham.God didn’t drop the addy.He didn’t send a map pin.He simply said:“Go to the land I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1)Not have shown.Not fully explained.But will show.In motion.In relationship.In time.Imagine Abraham—he gets to the plot of grass God told him to go to— dusty, tired, unsure what comes next.So what does he do?He builds an altar. He stops to worship.Because holy breadcrumbing always includes direction and devotion.Scripture says:“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)A lamp, not a floodlight.Just enough light to keep walking without stumbling.Never enough to skip the journey.Holy breadcrumbing is not about withholding.It’s about walking together.Why God Doesn’t Give the Full Map Because the goal isn’t information.It’s formation— with every new experience, until our souls ascend to be with the Father again for all of eternity.If God handed us the entire plan at once, we would strategize instead of trust, manage instead of follow, and rush ahead instead of remaining near.We live in a culture obsessed with optimization.Five-year plans.Dating scripts.Efficiency in everything.But there is a difference between strategy and what my Jamaican elders call ✨reasoning✨.Reasoning is slow conversation.It’s sitting somewhere comfortable with someone wise, talking about life without rushing toward a conclusion. You listen closely — not wanting to miss a word — and before you know it, the light has shifted and the day is ending.Not because you were trying to solve something.But because you were present together.This is how the Spirit leads.Not through frantic analysis.But through ongoing conversation.Holy breadcrumbing invites us to live this way with God— attentive, unhurried, returning again and again to listen.The Tenderness of Daily BreadLet’s be honest.It’s not always comforting to live this way.In Exodus 16, God gave Israel manna daily.Not weekly.Not in bulk.Daily.He said:“Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow my instructions.”It was a test of trust—and we know how often they struggled to trust it.Would they believe He would provide again tomorrow?Today, we still live on daily bread.Jesus tells us:“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” (Matthew 6:34)We have the Holy Spirit supplying our daily bread and instructions.Still — it can feel vulnerable.To obey before outcomes are visible.To move without guarantees.To trust when clarity is partial.Especially if your past taught you uncertainty equals harm.This is where healing and discernment meet.Because God’s breadcrumbing does not produce the same fruit as human breadcrumbing.Human breadcrumbing leaves you:* anxious* self-doubting* overanalyzing* striving for reassuranceBut when the Spirit leads, even in small steps, there is usually a smooth undercurrent:A steadiness.A groundedness.A sense of being held, even in the unknown.Not urgency.Not emotional whiplash.Just enough peace to take the next step.God Is Not Stringing You AlongHe is speaking at the pace of trust.One step.Then the next.Then the next.Not to frustrate you.But to keep you in step with Him.Because unlike human breadcrumbing, which keeps you attached without direction —Holy breadcrumbing always moves you somewhere.Toward growth.Toward freedom.Toward deeper union.And most of all, toward God Himself.That way we don’t make idols of the blessings.Or the outcomes.Or even the assignments He leads us into.We stop — like Abraham — to build holy altars along the way.To remember Who is leading.To remember Who is carrying the weight.To remember Who the story belongs to.God doesn’t give the whole map since He never asked you to carry the whole story.Only to walk it with Him.Step by step.Day by day.Not rushed.Not abandoned.But steadily, intentionally, lovingly led.One holy breadcrumb at a time. 🥰subscribe for more articles like this.Thank you for sitting with me beneath the flowers. If my work resonates with you or offers support, I’d be grateful for every share, like, or comment. And if you’d like to support my work further, feel free to buy me a coffee.I’ll write to you again soon,Always love,Chérie ~ You might also like:Socials:Instagram | Tik Tok This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beneaththeflowers.substack.com/subscribe

If God is love, then our fear of it tells a story worth listening to.Untangling of love languages and survival love@heywildflwr on IGbeneaththeflowers.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beneaththeflowers.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you for listening! This poem is inspired by the prompt: “let me tell you what it’s not…”I thought about what being perceived feels like, and maybe what it would feel like when someone actually SEES me—beyond my beauty.If you’d like to support my writing or send over a quick thank you, here’s the link to buy me a coffeeI’ll write to you again soon.~ ChérieIG @heywildflwr This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beneaththeflowers.substack.com/subscribe

A reflective meditation on anxious and avoidant attachment, secure love, and the slow healing God offers. An exploration of what it means to love without urgency, without lack, and with trust—learning a love that can breathe.@heywildflwr on instagram This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beneaththeflowers.substack.com/subscribe

It’s the start of a new calendar year, and I’m resisting the urge to rush.Instead of asking What’s next? I’m asking a quieter, truer question—one rooted in faith and discernment:What is mine to tend to for the long haul?It might sound like an oxymoron, but I’m learning this is true: the slower I go, the faster I arrive. Presence. This isn’t a rejection of goals or six-month plans. It’s simply an acknowledgement that most of our lives are lived in the right now. Not the future. Not the past. Today. This moment.Over the holiday, I caught myself looking at my dog and asking a question she couldn’t answer: When did you grow up?I remember the day I adopted her—four pounds, six ounces, a smelly nine-month-old Yorkie mix curled in the back of a shelter cage. And now here she is, nearly three years old, fourteen and a half pounds, loving and pure.When did that happen?The in-between feels fuzzy. Not because it wasn’t meaningful —but because the last twenty-four months of my life felt like everything was happening all at once.On December 31 2025, I looked over at her again and made the decision: going forward, I will be more intentional with presence. Intentional being the key word. Creating moments that matter. Writing with purpose. Fostering a community that feels like the first snowfall on a cozy winter morning — gentle, unique, and full of wonder. Warmth that's both tangible and transferrable. Not chasing what’s next. Just being here with what’s now.So while the world hit the ground running with strategies and email blasts, I chose a different pace. One that’s kinder to my nervous system. Slower, more meaningful.subscribe for free :)Eyes OpenI’ve been carrying this tension for months — wondering if I should stop painting. Sell my easel. Accept that a season had closed. Wondering if it was a distraction. And then a song played. An image formed. And I picked up my brush. I’ve been painting more lately, which usually means I’m writing less poetry. For me, those two are like an on-off switch. I’ve learned not to question God when this happens.In that wrestling, I received clarity I didn’t know I needed — clarity that’s guiding me into this new year. The difference (and connection) between career, gifting, calling, oil, anointing, purpose, and hobbies. Some of this will sound like a bunch of Christianese as they say, but I’ll keep it as simple as it was revealed to me. My hope is that it offers clarity and steadiness where you’ve been searching. GiftingYour gifting lives where your quirks are. It’s what God placed in your hands. Others see it clearly, while you’re more aware of the friction around it.For example, I’m a writer with dyslexia. For years, I focused more on the challenge (or quirk) than the gift itself. I reread, revise, and labor more than some—and in earlier seasons, that resistance kept the gift from maturing fully.There’s almost always resistance near your God-given strength. Gifts are meant to be poured out—but first, they must be understood.Look deeper.This is why we need one another. Where I am weak, someone else is strong.CallingGod wired us to work together in our calling. It’s what He wants to do in the earth through willing vessels like you and me—using the gifts He’s given us. It’s the thread God weaves through a lifetime.The spiritual gifts Paul names in 1 Corinthians are precursors to calling. For example:* Prophecy / Seer → Scribe* Wisdom / Dreamer → Visual Artist* Hospitality / Serving → Community Builder* Healing / Mercy → Intercessor* Teaching / Exhortation → SpeakerRomans 11:29 reminds us that the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable. Meaning they are given freely—whether or not we surrender them back to Him to shape. That’s where oil and anointing come in.Oil, Anointing, and PurposeOil is formed in the quiet.It’s cultivated through quiet time with God—through scripture, stillness, and presence. Metaphorically, it’s what begins to drip off of you when you spend time in His presence. God places the super on your natural. Psalm 23 says, ”You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” From that overflow, that anointing by God, we discover purpose — not as a starting point, but as a result — it’s what we are meant to do in the earth Purpose is where the story moves from your prayer closet into the world. It answers the question, “what do I do with my calling?”Faith has taught me that purpose isn’t something we invent. It’s something we steward.Career and the KingdomAt some point, the practical question arises: But I need a career.And that’s true. Yet all of it—every role, every skill— is by God and for God.What you do for a living and what you do for the Kingdom may be the same—or they may complement one another beautifully. For example:Healing / Mercy → Intercessor → Nurse, Doctor, Therapist, Counselor, DoulaYou don’t have to work for a church to serve God.If there’s tension here, it may be an invitation to get quiet and pray:“God, shape me into who You’ve called me to be.”Start there. The rest will flow.HobbiesHobbies are set apart in their own way.They’re life-giving expressions of joy, curiosity, and play. I see them as a form of worship. For me, that looks like painting, photography, gardening, hiking, and dancing. Moments of awe. Just me— conversations between me and God alone. Not everything is meant to be shared. Not everything is meant to be monetized. If everything becomes a money grab, what remains sacred?Confusing these categories is how we burn out. Honoring their differences is how we endure.Choosing With DiscernmentThere will always be invitations. Needs. Places we could show up.So I’ve begun filtering my yeses:* Does this align with my long-term calling—or just my short-term emotions?* Is this sustainable?* Will this deepen my faith, or slowly drain it?Voluntary roles now pass a gentler, firmer test: Does this belong in the story God is writing for me right now?Boundaries That Protect the CallA rule I’m carrying into this year:Only two ongoing commitments per year outside of my career.Everything else must be seasonal or one-off.This isn’t limitation—it’s protection. It guards my oil. It preserves my joy. It keeps my yes honest.I’m also giving myself permission to observe.Sometimes faith looks like watching before moving. Listening before speaking. Letting clarity form.A Slower, Truer Way ForwardAs this new year begins, I’m choosing long-term faithfulness over constant availability.I want my life to be rooted. My work to be intentional. My giving to be sustainable.I want to pour from oil that has been formed, not forced. To honor my calling without confusing it with every good idea. To let hobbies remain joyful. To let my career reveal God’s goodness. To walk in purpose at God’s pace, not mine.Not everything deserves a yes.And sometimes, saying no—with discernment and trust—can be one of the most faithful acts we make.May this year be marked not by hurry, but by depth. I’ll likely go live on Substack soon to unpack this further. There is so much more to say.I’ll write to you again soon ~Always love,Chériep.s., if you’d like to support my writing this year or send over a quick thank you, here’s the link to buy me a coffeeMore like this:Teaching I can across after posting this, might help solidify some more: Thanks for reading Beneath the Flowers! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beneaththeflowers.substack.com/subscribe

Please excuse the audio and stuffiness. :) I’ve had my fair share of friendship breakups and heart pains. I’ve been the bad friend, the entitled friend, the absent friend, the rude friend, the fun friend, the hiking friend, the Jamaican friend, the list goes on. But in this season, I want to be more intentional with the people God blesses me with. So I’m following His example. Friendships take time to grow (maybe not 3 years for us but still some time). Jesus values friendship.The message on friendship is this — allow people to grow with you, share in what you’re doing for the Kingdom of God, but hold these people loosely. Allow them room to get to know you, show you who they are, walk away from you, or walk with you.Being equally yoked isn’t only for romantic relationships. It’s for friendships too.Some friendships will remain shallow, some will be solely transactional, others will grow deep. It isn’t our responsibility to force it either way. John 15: 15 - 17 , John 6: 65 - 69 → reflect on how they mirror and how they reveal the meaning of friendship. In the upper room, in Jesus’ final teaching to the disciples, is when he calls them ‘friend’ for the first time.I’ll have a better mic by the next live, promise. Anywho! Let me know your thoughts on this in the comments or reply to me directly, I’d love to hear from you.~xo, ChérieThanks for reading Beneath the Flowers! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beneaththeflowers.substack.com/subscribe

follow @heywildflwr on instagram for more ~Lately I’ve been thinking about what it really means to be made whole.Not just “okay,” not just functioning, not just smiling for the group chat—but made whole in the way God intended.After the deconstruction.After the ground shakes beneath us.After everything that isn’t in God’s will for us falls to the floor like broken dry wall.And honestly?There’s a version of “healing” the world keeps trying to sell us—quick, curated, and optimized for aesthetics. A kind of wellness that photographs well: the matcha, the morning routine, the self-care rituals…And then…there’s wholeness.Wholeness feels more like a slow, sacred construction zone.A victory lap after you’ve already crossed the finish line.A rebuilding that doesn’t rush you.A restoration that never asks you to pretend.It’s God whispering, “You’ve come this far healing on your own, now let Me make you whole.”Wellness polishes. Wholeness rebuilds.The world is obsessed with “wellness”. And listen, as a consultant in the wellness industry—I get it. I love a good candle, a good walk, a good skincare routine. I’m not against softness. And I’m not against tending to the body God gave me.The difference is wellness is often about managing the symptoms. And we say “whole-person health” but we’re missing the key.Wholeness is about meeting the Great Physician.Wellness smooths the surface;Wholeness goes underground.Wellness helps you cope;Wholeness teaches you to heal for real.And I’ve learned you can meditate, journal, hydrate, and stretch—but if Christ isn’t the Cornerstone, the house still leans.Wholeness starts where pretending ends.There came a point when I realized I was editing myself into someone who looked “well,” but didn’t feel well—trying to self-improve my way into freedom. Like putting fresh flowers in a room with cracked walls—pretty, but still crumbling underneath.Jesus doesn’t ask for polished.He asks for present.Wholeness begins the moment you stop auditioning and start opening the doors you’ve kept locked.The rooms labeled “don’t enter.”The boxes stacked with old stories and inherited fears.It’s choosing truth over image.Depth over aesthetic.Formation over performance.Wholeness isn’t something we manufacture.It’s something we yield to.It’s when Christ steps over the threshold of your home with that steady knowing, calm and patient saying, “Let’s start here.”You can’t be made whole by the same sources that broke you.You can’t be renewed by affirmations that can’t resurrect.You can’t build a new life on old scaffolding.Wholeness begins when we let Jesus anchor the architecture of our soul.To be whole is to be reoriented—mind, heart, identity, desires.It’s a renovation that touches everything:Your thoughts learn to align with truth.Your heart learns to trust again.Your identity learns to stop performing and start resting.Your soul learns that safety isn’t found in hiding—it’s found in Him.Renewing the mind is like clearing out a garden.Some of the thoughts I carried looked like wild vines—entangled, overgrown, wrapping themselves around everything. Beliefs I never questioned. Wounds I decorated instead of treated.And the Holy Spirit, the most patient Gardener I’ve ever known, began to pull them up—bringing questions to the surface like:“Why does this hurt still shape me?”“Why do I keep returning to what drains me?”“What do I really believe about God… and about myself?”Renewal feels like that:a tender uprooting,a holy re-planting.Not rushed.Not forced.Just intentional.Wholeness doesn’t hurry you.If anything, it asks you to slow down.Because God cares more about depth than speed.Some days I feel like freshly poured concrete—wet, fragile, needing time to set.Then other days I feel like a stained-glass window He’s piecing back together—shards becoming my story.No matter the metaphor, the truth is the same:Wholeness takes time, but it never wastes it.Wholeness looks like…Presence not perfection.Surrender not strength.Cultivated peace not curated peace.Not pretending you’re healed,but letting Jesus heal what you no longer hide.It’s a process.Wholeness begins when the scattered parts of you gather again—not because you forced them into place,but because you let God’s Love hold them long enough to reshape them.So if this resonated with you, consider this your gentle reminder: God is not done building in you.Thank you for being here ~ reading, healing, unlearning, and being made whole.If you want more reflections like this in your inbox—more heart talk, more Scripture-rooted soul care, more gentle invitations toward wholeness, subscribe below. Let’s keep growing toward wholeness, one surrendered layer at a time. 🤍🏡I won’t spam your inbox, promise :) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beneaththeflowers.substack.com/subscribe

There’s a kind of faith we inherit—and then there’s the faith that grows in the soil of our actual lives.In the storms, in the waiting rooms, in the still moments when God becomes more than an idea.One is acquired.One is experienced.Both have purpose.Both shape us through sanctification.But to grow, we have to recognize the difference.How We LearnThere’s a season for taking in truth. Where we are studying, absorbing, listening, understanding.And there’s a season for walking out what we’ve learned.I get weary of faith that only lives in the mind.Faith that knows theology but hasn’t had to cling to God through the night. There is nothing wrong with head knowledge, but Scripture reminds us:“…we defeat the accuser by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.” Revelation 12:11Our testimony requires lived experience.Maybe it’s time to experience life or maybe it’s time to dive deeper into the Word.Wherever you are, God will meet you.Acquired FaithAcquired faith is the faith we receive through:teaching, tradition, culture, community, repetitionIt’s the faith that says,“I believe because I was told God is true.”It’s something steady to lean on while we learn to stand.Paul honors this kind of faith when he reminds Timothy of the faith that lived in his mother and grandmother before him (2 Timothy 1:5). Acquired faith gives us vocabulary.It gives us story.It gives us belonging.Faith can be passed down like a torch, carried through generations.Experiential FaithExperiential faith forms when God steps into our narrative — when the words on the page breathe, when the promise becomes personal.It’s the faith that says,“I believe because I have seen God move… in me.”This is the faith of:* Jacob wrestling (Genesis 32:24–30)* David crying out yet still trusting (Psalm 34:4–8)* The woman who reached for healing (Mark 5:25–34)* Thomas touching the wounds (John 20:27–29)* And You surviving the thing you thought would break you Experiential faith doesn’t live in the mind —it roots itself in the heartand becomes muscle memory.It grows through encounter.Through surrender.Through seasons that stretch us.Like my mom always says in times of hardship, “keep the faith” — now I know what that means having lived through some things.Why the Difference MattersAcquired faith can inform you.Experiential faith will transform you.Acquired faith can teach you who God is.Experiential faith lets you taste and see (Psalm 34:8).One builds knowledge.The other builds intimacy.And intimacy is where love grows.When the two work together, that is where we find deep intimacy with God what James describes as:“Perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”James 1:4Someone else may need to hear this. The Growth This isn’t a rejection of acquired faith — it’s the invitation to let it deepen.Sometimes that depth comes gently.Sometimes it comes through heartbreak.Sometimes it comes through miracles that nobody else saw but you.I know because I’ve lived it. Every lived moment becomes a stone of remembrance built on the true cornerstone, Christ.6 Ways to Deepen Your Faith and experience a life with God, fully.* Sit With God for at least 5 MinutesNo agenda.No perfect words.Just breathe and say,“Lord, I’m here and I invite you in.”Presence is where intimacy begins.* Read Scripture SlowlyChoose a single verse.Read it out loud.Ask: “What does this mean for me today?”Let it move from information to encounter.* Notice Where God Already Showed UpThink back over the last 24 hours.A kindness.A provision.A moment of peace.Write down one thing.Awareness awakens gratitude — and gratitude awakens faith.* Take One Small Act of ObedienceSurrender is the first step, obedience comes after. Step out on faith with that thing God placed on your heart.He is in the details.* Get Outside and Touch CreationLook at the sky.Feel the air.Touch grass.Remember you are alive on purpose.Romans 1:20 says creation reveals God — so let it remind you.* Tell God How You Actually FeelNot the polished version.Not the church answer.The truth of your heart.Real relationship requires honesty.Your Life Is Sacred GroundYou don’t have to force a breakthrough...Just keep showing up — and you will find that God was already there.If this met you and you feel led to sit Beneath the Flowers a little while longer, here are a few ways to do that:Free Spirit Youtube Playlist - full of good teaching and good tunes on what it means to be a free spirit in Christ.Buy me a Matcha – and be a special part of Coffee Shop and Write Saturdays as I continue to write. From God, through me, to you.The Flower Before The Fruit — An interactive poetry book I created. It follows the journey of a young woman through a series of stories amongst metaphors and rhymes meant to depict portions of life, love, and everything in between. Each poem is crafted to either inspire, encourage, or provide a point of deep self-reflection.Whether you support tangibly or just sent over a virtual smile, I’m grateful. This space is for you.subscribe for free ↓Thank you for sitting with me beneath the flowers,where we grow, heal, and discover truth with a heart of love and eyes set on eternity.I offer this space as a shelter for your becoming.A place where silence speaks through written and spoken word,as we gently tend to what’s buried beneath the surface—with the Holy Spirit as our guide.If my work resonates with you or offers support,I’d be grateful for every share, like, or comment.Because in the right hands, even the smallest seeds bloom. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beneaththeflowers.substack.com/subscribe

Matthew 25: 35-40Luke 6: 27-31It should go without saying — we should care for ourselves first to ensure that we have enough to give. My prayer is that we function, as members of society, more like conduits and less like reservoirs. Receiving and giving. Caring and being cared for. Loving and being loved. Reciprocity. Compassion. Trust.Jesus taught that the greatest commandments are to love God and to love others. When we intentionally move beyond our daily routines to care for people in our community—whether by serving at a food pantry, helping someone learn English, or opening our home to children in need—we’re living out that calling and taking part in the Great Commission.Our heart posture is the main thing.Thank you for sitting with me beneath the flowers,where we grow, heal, and discover truth with a heart of love and eyes set on eternity.I offer this space as a shelter for your becoming.A place where silence speaks through written and spoken word,as we gently tend to what’s buried beneath the surface—with the Holy Spirit as our guide.If my work resonates with you or offers support,I’d be grateful for every share, like, or comment.Because in the right hands, even the smallest seeds bloom.Relief Efforts for Families in Jamaica: If you’d like to support my family and the communities they are a part of directly and are in the Atlanta area, send me a message.Here’s the link to the original article where I navigate what it means to hope, again. ~ Chérie This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beneaththeflowers.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beneaththeflowers.substack.com/subscribe

In 2021, I got a tattoo on my wrist that reads “I surrender.”Every time I pray, I look at it and remember a season where surrender felt less like peace and more like death. Not a graceful release, but a tearing away of control I thought I needed to survive.It’s painful when you’re taught:* Be in control* Depend on no one but yourself* Your life is in your hands, and one wrong move could ruin it all.This is the breeding ground for anxiety. The desperate grip on outcomes. The fear that if you loosen your hold, everything will fall apart.We often imagine surrender as a soft yes—hands lifted, heart open, a quiet yielding. That might be the start, but biblical surrender requires more. It’s not passive. Surrender is ActiveIt is faith and obedience moving in rhythm.It’s I’d rather do this, but I’m being led by God to that.It’s laying down your will and picking up your cross.Jesus doesn’t call us to drift into His will—He calls us to follow Him (Luke 9:23). A daily choice. An intentional laying down of our own way for His.The Before and AfterA friend asked me, “How do you know when you’re walking in surrender, instead of resisting?”Simply,Pre-surrender feels like anxiety.Post-surrender feels like dependence.It looks like:* Pulling on the strength of God in every situation* Considering Him in every decision and before every opportunity* Intentionally abiding* Intentionally yielding* Intentionally moving where He leadsGod doesn’t ask us to know the outcome. He already does.He simply asks us to complete the next thing.As long as you’re obedient with the next thing, you’re walking with God—not against Him.Holy BreadcrumbsAs we walk step by step, He reveals what’s next.Think of it as holy breadcrumbs leading you home. 😌Step by step, season by season.Here’s the paradox of surrender: Things will continue to happen—good, bad, and otherwise But as long as you are walking alongside the One who knows every chapter of your story, you’ll find peace that surpasses your understanding.It demands trust in the unseen and obedience to His Word, even when feelings pull you in another direction.Loosen Your GripGod will begin to move in your life as soon as you loosen your grip on it.I believe this is what the Lord means when he says, in Matthew 16:25: "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."When you realize it’s not by your might, or your will, but by the Spirit of the Lord — you’re walking in surrender. Surrender feels like sitting in God’s presence—alone, but never lonely—while opportunities swirl around you.Opportunities are flying all around you. God places them, He removes them.Our role is to discern the season.Sitting in His presence while He has His way.This choice is active.It’s a daily decision to be led by God.Sacrificial Surrender Sacrificial surrender means some things will walk with you for life, and others will come only for a season. A healthy detachment from everything we can see with our eyes. Letting things remain only for as long as God intends.Hold everything loosely.My UndoingFor years, I refused to give God what was already His—my life.The result? Anxiety.Anxiety so heavy it broke me. Adrenal fatigue, acne, sickness, exhaustion all from living in survival mode. The pandemic revealed it all.Once I began practicing biblical surrender, the anxiety lifted. What was left was dependence—a rhythm of release, rooting me in the power of God rather than my own limits.I believe every ailment has a spiritual root, but that’s a conversation for another post.God is FaithfulHe holds all things together.He knows the way when we cannot see it.So today, tonight, this afternoon, wherever you are in the world—don’t drift. Surrender actively— with intention, with trust, with love.Because when you loosen your grip, God can finally have His way. He’s waiting on you ~Thank you for sitting with me beneath the flowers, where we grow, heal, and discover truth with a heart of love and eyes set on eternity. I offer this space as a shelter for your becoming. A space where silence speaks through written and spoken word, as we gently tend to what’s buried beneath the surface with the Holy Spirit as our guide. If my work resonates with you or offers support, I’d be grateful for every share, like, or comment. Because in the right hands, even the smallest seeds bloom.Dig Deeper: Journal Prompts on Surrender* Where in my life am I gripping tightly to control, and what fear is driving that grip?* What daily practices help me choose surrender over self-reliance?* Where do I sense God inviting me to trust Him right now, even if I don’t have all the answers?Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Recommend Beneath the Flowers to your readersA digital space for growth, healing and discovery in the body of Christ. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beneaththeflowers.substack.com/subscribe

When God speaks — I listen.That quiet whisper, just loud enough for me to hear. For me, it’s not always full sentences — and it often doesn’t make sense in the moment.Around the time of this video, I was deep in prayer and reflection with God about finances, money, and overall wealth — both tangible and intangible. It had been a couple of weeks since setting my intentions on understanding how God sees these things and during this trip it became extremely clear. I believe there is a spirit behind everything. Especially those things we don’t quite understand. There are spiritual governments that oppress God’s people.For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12).For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him (Colossians 1:16).I believe some of creation the LORD left a mystery — on purpose. Then, through His kindness, he reveals what we need in the moment we need it.After getting back to my hotel room from the restaurant, I turned on YouTube on the hotel room TV and immediately saw an old series my Pastor did on finances… here’s one part. This encounter was completely divine. Thank you for sitting with me beneath the flowers, where we grow, heal, and discover truth with a heart of love and eyes set on eternity. I offer this space as a shelter for your becoming. A space where silence speaks through written and spoken word, as we gently tend to what’s buried beneath the surface with the Holy Spirit as our guide. If my work resonates with you or offers support, I’d be grateful for every share, like, or comment. Because in the right hands, even the smallest seeds bloom.Always love, Chérie ♡ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beneaththeflowers.substack.com/subscribe

The Lord placed this topic on my heart to write on May 6th and naturally I said, “Okay God, what do you want me to say?” I’m just going to leave this here.Oftentimes, we rest on what Paul defines as love in 1 Corinthians 13: 4 through 7 filling our bathroom mirrors with sticky notes, writing it in our journals, plastering it to the walls of our home, injecting into our personal situations without considering its original context. What Paul said in this chapter is part of a larger conversation about spiritual gifts in the body of Christ and love being the most important gift of them all.Follow me…Chapter 12: One Body, Many Parts.Recently, I’ve come to realize why so many of us are living on the frays of our lives, burnt out, crashing out, barely making it, gasping for air…We’re in positions, places, and seasons God didn’t place us in. By default (allowing the world to shape us) or our own design (trying to control our destiny under the premise of free will).But in His love for us and honoring the free will He gave us, He will still walk with us through those seasons of disobedience. “You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however, you were led” (v. 2 ESV). Hmm.. led astray, but you were still led… be mindful who claim to have spiritual gifts leading you somewhere but lack the Holy Spirit. Spiritual Gifts only come by way of the Holy Spirit. One Spirit, Many gifts (parts), (to serve) One Body. I digress.Paul lays out a beautiful and compelling image of unity in diversity. He tells us though the Spirit gives many different gifts, they all originate from the same spirit. The purpose of these gifts isn’t personal glory, but the common good (v.7 ESV). For God’s Glory.Let’s make it plain…There’s mutual dependence in the body. Paul highlights external body parts to draw the comparison, but let’s go deeper…For each part to function well, another part has to function well in its role. One part informing the other. Complementary. One cannot work without the other. Imagine if your neurons just stopped sending information across your brain or the lens in your eyes stop refracting light? In this scenario, we acknowledge our eye and our brain, but there are other parts of the body — maybe often overlooked — that have equal, if not more, value. Those intangible, invaluable bits.There’s value in the role you play in the body of Christ. No matter how seemingly big or small. There’s value in being in front of the camera, behind the camera, or even just being the person who plugs the camera in. None is more important than the other. They all hold unique value. Each position belongs. We cannot all be in front of the camera. We are not all called to that position. Side note: how do you know you’re called to or anointed for a position or spiritual gift? Simple. You didn’t place yourself in it. By ways beyond your understanding (the Holy Spirit) you end up there. It feels more like a cross you have to carry than something that gives *you* the glory. It grows you. It’s been there since you were a child. You cannot function in it on your own strength. You develop a neediness for Christ. That’s how you know.If we idolize or boast in our gifts and positions, and fail to submit under them for the GLORY of God we’ve missed the point. If you love God and leave Him out of the picture when thinking about everything you’re talented in you’ve missed the point. Paul ends chapter 12 to the church of Corinth saying “Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.” (v. 30 ESV) Essentially saying, yes it’s okay to desire spiritual gifts but there’s ONE more greater gift than those — love.But there’s a reason why love is the greatest spiritual gift of them all. Let’s look at love in the body. Chapter 13: One Gift, Many Hearts.Paul opens by saying if he speaks in the tongues, prophesies, has all knowledge, faith to move mountains, gives all he has to the poor, even surrenders his body as a sacrifice to boast but have not love—he is nothing.Let that sink in. Nothing.Not lesser. Not imperfect.Nothing. Anything done without love is in vain and means nothing. (Paraphrasing 1 Corin. 13: 2 - 3). This is a radical claim. It means spiritual gifts, no matter how impressive, are pointless if they are not motivated and infused by love.Reminds me how some of us value certain gifts or “abilities” for self-exaltation and building our own kingdoms yet lack love and are far away from God.I like to think Paul might have thought of love like the blood flowing through our veins in the body metaphor he used in chapter 12. As a biologist, this makes perfect sense to me. Don’t worry — I won’t bore you with science analogies. :) Love is patient and kindLove does not envy or boast. Love is not angry or rudeLove does not insist on its own wayLove is not irritable or resentfulLove does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with truthLove bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all thingsLove never ends.This love isn’t sentimental. It’s gritty, selfless, persistent, and wholly other-centered. It’s love that stays when it’s inconvenient, forgives when its hurt, and serves when no one is watching. It does all things for building up the church and expanding the Kingdom of God here on earth.And Paul closes the chapter with these unforgettable words: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (13:13)So, why Love is the Greatest Faith and hope are essential. Faith connects us to the unseen; hope anchors us through the trial. But love is the heartbeat of the Kingdom. The language of the heavens. Why? Because God is love (1 John 4:8). Love is not just what God does — it’s who He is. And when we love, we become living reflections of and ambassadors for God. Then Paul in chapter 13 v. 8 through 10 goes on to say our spiritual gifts will pass away when the perfect one (Christ) returns. Prophecies will cease. Knowledge will vanish. But love? Love endures forever.So, spiritual gifts or love? What does your heart desire more? A Personal ChallengeIn this letter Paul is writing to the church of Corinth, teaching people who favored certain spiritual gifts and did not have love.If you’re a follower of Christ or simply trying to grow spiritually, this passage invites you to examine your motivations. * Are your actions rooted in love? * Are your gifts serving others, or feeding ego?* Do you admire certain spiritual expressions more than others, forgetting the quiet acts of love that hold the body of Christ together?It’s important to remember the purpose of the spiritual gift and the giver of the gift — the Holy Spirit. Not to abandon our spiritual gifts but to orient them toward the greater goal: a life so drenched in love that our gifts become vessels and not trophies.So yes, desire to speak truth. Yearn to heal, to lead, to serve powerfully. But above all, desire to love because love is the only gift that transforms us into the likeness of Christ.Take some time to journal here, pause. Spend some quality time with God.♡ Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Have you experienced a time when love was more powerful than any spiritual gift? How do you keep love at the center of your spiritual life as a follower of Christ?♡ Not yet subscribed? Hit the Subscribe button so you don’t miss future reflections on faith, scripture, and living a life deeply rooted in love.♡ If this blessed you, consider sharing it with a friend, it might be the reminder they need today.In a future reflection, I’ll write about what it looks like to unlearn spiritual performance and choose love in real relationships — not as an ideal, but as a daily practice.~ Chérie This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beneaththeflowers.substack.com/subscribe

This video was originally recorded December 2024, I sat on it and didn’t know when I was going to post it. This morning I woke up and I couldn’t get it out of my mind, so here we are…Jesus Christ is more than just a man, he’s more than just a prophet. He is GOD in the flesh. He came to atone for our sins and teaches us how to be human. He is the Messiah. ♡As always, a few videos that might also be helpful:Historical science = Archeology, the scientific study of past human life and activity through the analysis of material remains. I think about this video often ↓ Archeologist pulls forward so much evidence that confirms the essays, letters, and stories of the Bible.Luke 19:40 “If these were silent, the very stones will cry out” ESVBiochemist Dr. Sy Garte, former Atheist turned follower of Jesus Christ discusses how science actually points back to God and more specifically, Christ. ↓nothing + nothing = nothingnothing + God = everything ↓The difference between us, God, learning about God through nature, and having a “form” of godliness. ↓by Jackie Hill PerryHow the enemy uses your traumas to lure you into false light. ↓Warnings against False Teachers 1 Timothy 4: 1 - 2Paul writes to Timothy..“Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.”I know that was a lot. It was a lot for me too when I sat with it all last year. You might need to grab your journal and talk to God. Here are a few journal prompts for you to reflect on:* What is most important to you on your spiritual journey?* What was (were) the catalyst(s)?* What patterns have you noticed along your spiritual journey?Thank you for taking the time to read Beneath the Flowers, where we’ll explore God’s creation and life’s journey together. If my work resonates with you or offers help, I would be grateful if you could share it with a friend or loved one in need. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beneaththeflowers.substack.com/subscribe

Our Spirit - is eternal, it is not bound by time or any construct humans have created, it never sleeps, it fights daily to connect with God the creator and giver of the breath of life; the part of our being actually having the human experience.Our Soul - our mind, our will, and our emotions; the part of our being most susceptible to attack, hijacking, and control; the squishy bits; it’s what has desires, gets weary, but is not stronger than our spirit; what the Bible would call the “flesh” or “human nature.” (Romans 8:13) We must submit our soul to the will of God.Our Body - a gift from God; a vessel made from the literal matter of the earth, wasting away, temporal; it doesn’t run outside of the supernatural presence of our spirit (James 2:26) and since it houses our spirit, we must treat it well. Those (5?) senses connected to our body… send information to our soul… creating an experience for our spirit. The cells of our body indeed holds information. Let it soak…read more on beneaththeflowers.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beneaththeflowers.substack.com/subscribe

I’ve never shared my faith journey … in full… with the world. It’s been a private journey since I was a child and, even more so, for the past 10 years since August 2014, but the Holy Spirit has led me to share it in this moment. So, i’m being obedient. I hope in reading and watching this you can maybe see yourself in parts of my story.Part 1, 2, and 3 are in writing on Substack ~beneaththeflowers.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beneaththeflowers.substack.com/subscribe

audio recording of this article available, click the play button above!It’s true, making friends in 2024 as an adult and making friends in 2005 as a child are different. There’s so much more density to navigate as we age, so much so, we become jaded. Misconstruing a friendly gesture for romantic desire, lines blurred between likes and actual attraction, genuine support and fandom… what is it… illusive… it seems.What if we approached our adult friendships with the curiosity of a child instead of with a critical eye, a “what’s in it for me” mentality, or as an opportunity to leverage in the future? What if we actually got to know each other on a soul level first, outside of what we look like and what we do for a living?I can already feel the hesitation and see the heads nodding “no, absolutely not.” A snippet of “Strike 12” by Chérie Jade “All i need is a minute of your time.but how long’s a minute anyway?the highest exchange of currencydwindled down to Tik Toks on new fashioned clockswhere’s the quality in that anyway?time.stand.still.last call, we promise to use it all. just so we can spend more of you endlessly, feeding our flesh and not our souls you see… illusions lie in the spaces where time flies. but how long is that journey anyway? ”Social MediaWe’ve been doing the same thing for years, posting ourselves, liking each others’ posts, commenting… with no real community… no real support. It’s like a new age hamster wheel. Getting free from “the rat race” of your 9 to 5 just to hop on the hamster wheel of social media. Studies show the side effects this digital world has on self-esteem, body image, social skills, self-awareness, just to name a few... I’m no psychologist but I can guess these side effects may also influence the way we see each other.I’ve noticed recently a mass exodus of various content creators who share meaningful, heartfelt content. Instead of continuing to prioritize their digital presence, they are prioritizing their mental health and real-life connections. And I can’t help but to wonder… What are we doing here? Why don’t we share the amazing work of our peers? Why do we gatekeep each other? What are we doing besides self-promotion and harvesting each other’s energy? Is this really community? Or is it the illusion of community created to keep us dependent on small dopamine hits, to keep us emotionally dysregulated, and in constant battle with an imaginary algorithm meant solely to pin us against each other and keep us in hyper-productive mode to keep their platform(s) running?Let’s tell the truth…I’m not here to rain on anyone’s parade, but I do think we’re becoming more addicted to the illusion of “social” media than we realize. unrelated but related, how old would we be without the concept of calendars? Drop the answer in the commentsFriendshipI wasn’t always the empathetic friend, who wanted to do good in the world… friends who have known me for 10+ years can attest to that. I’ve grown in self-awareness, compassion, and empathy from once being very self-centered and suffering from deep betrayal from humans. I once wanted to be a Veterinarian because “I didn’t like humans”…. what did that say about how much I liked myself? This was over a decade ago, thank God for healing. The journey continues.That mask was used to protect who I was on the inside, to hide my vulnerability and tender heart. The fun girl, smart girl, pretty girl who prioritized romance over friendship mask. The more intimate I became with myself and the more healing work I did, the more the mask started to crumble. After years of tussling in the shadows alone with a mirror and God, I started to see the world differently. I realized how I was showing up was a result of my closest influences (one of which being social media) and my perception of myself. Healing work isn’t glamorous at all. We cannot do everything God has called us to do in this life by ourselves. I needed humans. Why is it so hard for us to say we need each other? God didn’t create man to be alone. I’m not saying to develop a codependent relationship here or to depend on external validation to solidify your worth, ranking, or position. I’m saying quite the opposite. I’ve been seeing a lot of content saying “post for you and do it because it makes you feel good not for anyone else.” Yes and no.Why share if what you are sharing is for yourself? What is social media giving you, that celebrating your wins in the quiet times you have with yourself is not? What about social media makes you “feel good”? What are we here for if we refuse to support and be medicine for each other as we walk each other home? These are questions I’ve asked myself, don’t worry.Our wisdom, testimony, gifts, and skills aren’t meant for us to hoard. We’re meant to use them in community with each other to live in harmony — together — interdependence — synergy. 1 + 1 = 1 type math… If you know you know.Friendship and social media, is it real or is it just a black mirror? Is it creating more distance? What do you think friendship requires?Leave a comment in the comment section belowI’ve been considering the role meaningful friendships play across all lines of relationships. By meaningful I mean ones with mutual effort, curiosity, and quality time. Friendship isn’t some castaway position deemed “not as important.” I believe friendship is the baseline of all good relationships, including romantic, and should be treated with equal intentionality and vulnerability. Vulnerability is the brave thing to do. Intimacy and selfishness cannot coexist. Vulnerability will either lead to a devastating rejection or a great reward, but that’s a risk worth taking to cultivate relationships that are real.A selfish lifestyle bears no real fruit. The tree may grow but it will be barren. Real community, real friendship is worth a fruitful life. We see some of the longest living species on planet earth continue to thrive and evolve together through mutual reciprocity and support. If not, they die. There’s a responsibility to uphold.It wouldn’t be me if I didn’t throw science and nature into the conversation, I just love this stuff. 😊Collective VisionOnce people have a shared vision they tend to work together better, stay around longer, and become mini brand reps for whatever it is they believe in. Corporations understand this concept well. Collective vision can be used for good, or it can be used for evil. But the thing in itself is pure. As with many things.How is social media influencing our vision of ourselves and each other? What if we use the algorithm to share each other’s work instead of our own? How are we supporting each other’s vision? Do you and your friends have the same collective vision?Food for thought.I’ll leave you with this — let’s honor the seasons and allow room for genuine friendships to flow into our lives, growing hand in hand till our souls decide that season has expired. This life journey is so beautiful when we really look at it, we’ve been awarded this once in a lifetime opportunity to be here on earth during these times with one another. Meet yourself where you’re at in all of this. Slowly is the fastest way to get to where we want to be.Always love,ChérieThank you so much for reading my work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beneaththeflowers.substack.com/subscribe