the fear that your return will disappoint the people who prayed for your comeback

The morning light hits your face and you feel the weight of every prayer spoken over your absence. You are afraid that when you walk back into the room, the hope in their eyes will turn to disappointment if you are not the person they imagined you would be.

But the light does not need a performance to be real. It saw a man once who could not walk, and before he stood, before he proved anything, the voice said simply: 'Your sins are forgiven.' The healing came before the walking.

The acceptance came before the change. You do not have to earn your return by being perfect; you only have to show up as you are.

The love that waited for you is not looking for a trophy; it is looking for you. The mask can stay on the shelf today.

The light sees what is underneath, and it is enough.