A Kiss from Rose | Let’s Pull These Mirrors Out; Audacity & Destroyers of the Heart Edition

Let’s pull these mirrors out.

Because today’s conversation is about audacity.

Not confidence.

Not courage.

Not boldness rooted in righteousness.

Audacity.

The kind that destroys hearts.

The kind that chips away at the spirit of good people.

The kind that leaves someone sitting alone asking:

“How could they do that?”

The audacity people have today is something to behold.

It is loud.

It is bold.

It is arrogant.

It often arrives wearing a smile.

A smile of victory.

A smile of entitlement.

A smile that says:

“I know exactly what I’m doing.”

And perhaps the most dangerous part?

The expectation that you will simply take it.

Take the disrespect.

Take the disregard.

Take the betrayal.

Take the manipulation.

Take the inconsideration.

Take the hurt.

And remain silent.

People will do you how they wish and dare you to speak up.

Dare you to say something.

Dare you to cry.

Dare you to hurt.

Dare you to pray.

Dare you to acknowledge what happened.

As if your pain is somehow an inconvenience to their comfort.

That’s the audacity.

The audacity says:

“I’ll do as I please.”

“You’ll accept it.”

“You’ll get over it.”

“You’ll stay.”

“You’ll continue showing up.”

“You’ll continue giving.”

“You’ll continue loving.”

And if you don’t?

Then somehow you’re the problem.

Now that’s some boldness for you.

Let’s go deeper.

Because audacity doesn’t usually happen between strangers.

It happens where access exists.

Where trust exists.

Where history exists.

Where care exists.

It often comes from people you have poured into.

People you sat beside.

People you prayed for.

People you listened to.

People you encouraged.

People you defended.

People you helped carry burdens.

People you checked on.

People you showed up for.

People you sacrificed for.

People you sat with on sick beds.

People whose tears you wiped.

People whose stories you listened to year after year.

People whose phone calls you answered.

People whose crises became your concern.

And then one day…

The mirror reveals something painful.

All of that is a long distance away in their memory.

The sacrifices.

The support.

The loyalty.

The consideration.

The grace.

The patience.

They remember very little of it.

In fact, some will audaciously say:

“Who asked you to do that?”

“You chose to do it.”

“You did it on your own.”

Interesting.

Because they needed it.

They accepted it.

They benefited from it.

They thanked you for it.

But now that accountability has entered the room, suddenly the story changes.

And here’s what hurts.

Not that they forgot.

But that they never intended to reciprocate.

Not that they received.

But that they expected to receive indefinitely.

Not that they needed help.

But that they never valued the hands that helped them.

Doesn’t that kind of boldness chip away at the heart?

Little by little.

Conversation by conversation.

Disappointment by disappointment.

Until one day you find yourself questioning people.

Questioning relationships.

Questioning your own generosity.

Questioning whether being kind is even worth it.

And that is exactly why audacity is such a destroyer of the heart.

Because it attempts to turn kindness into cynicism.

Compassion into suspicion.

Generosity into guardedness.

Love into withdrawal.

But let’s pull the mirror even closer.

Because God sees something we often miss.

While you are watching what people are doing…

God is watching too.

While they are operating in audacity…

God is observing character.

While they are counting what they gained…

God is counting what they gave away.

Because every act of arrogance leaves evidence.

Every act of disregard leaves evidence.

Every unnecessary wound leaves evidence.

God sits high.

And He looks low.

He sees the audacity.

He sees the pride.

He sees the entitlement.

He sees the hearts being bruised.

He sees the people being broken.

He sees the ones who trust Him while being mistreated.

He sees the tears.

He sees the prayers.

He sees the restraint.

He sees the moments when someone could have retaliated but chose faith instead.

And make no mistake.

God is not only paying attention to those doing the breaking.

He is paying attention to those enduring it.

Because while audacity may wound the heart…

God specializes in restoring it.

💌 Grandma’s Corner

Not everyone who breaks hearts does it with hatred.

Some do it with audacity.

Some do it with entitlement.

Some do it because they never imagined a day would come when you recognized your worth.

But never allow someone else’s audacity to make you forget who you are.

Keep your heart.

Keep your kindness.

Keep your faith.

And leave the accounting to God.

Because He saw what happened.

Every bit of it.

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