"Perfect"

Over the past few weeks as I have talked with friends the same topic seems to be crossing my mind, why do we as Christians always seem to act as if our lives are perfect? It seems to me when I ask any one of my christian friends how their lives are going their answer is always the same, "Good", "Fine," "Wonderful", etc. Why does it seem to be so hard for us to let others know that we have fallen short, that life at our house is not as it seems. I see it all around me, I look at someone else's life and think they have it all together, and I feel that I could never have my life that put together or perfect. Then I begin to wonder what others think of my life, I know that I am guilty of putting on the happy face and not letting others know when I am hurting or struggling. In my opinion this outward appearance of "perfection" in the eyes of others makes it hard for non-Christians to approach us, because they think that they will never be good enough in the eyes of the "perfect" Christians.
I say these words from my own experience, although I have always believed in God and known that Jesus died for my sins and I am quite sure as a child I asked Jesus to be my Savior, it wasn't until about 6 years ago when I got my life back on track. At that time in my life I was a college sophomore just living life or so I thought and then I met my husband. When Morgan entered my life I began to see things differently and we began to attend church together and my life changed, but I remember being that outsider looking in on the "perfect" Christians and wondering if I could ever live up to their expectations of me as a believer. And still today I look at the christian women in my life and wonder if I will ever be able to meet all their expectations and be "perfect" just like them.
In writing these words I pray that we as Christians can be more transparent, that we can show non-Christians that we are not perfect, that we don't have it all together, that it is only by the Cross that we are forgiven. And that God will meet us wherever we are, whether it is the valley or on top of the mountain. Sometimes the most beautiful things are broken and that's where God picks up the pieces and begins his work!