After reading this post and this post last week from some other bloggers, I felt like maybe I could address an issue in my own life head on, and where better than on the web where the whole world can see it? (Not that I'm conceited enough to believe they are reading this... but they could.) If you have known me for any amount of time, you know that self-image is a constant struggle in my life, and now is no different. But having a daughter has rocked me, in that I really don't want to pass these issues on to her or to Remy. There are constant voices in my head telling me that I'm not thin enough, pretty enough, strong enough... not enough. But God sees me differently. I love Molly's list in her post about what her body can do. As hard as it is to acknowledge, each scar and stretch mark on this body means something, stands for something. Some days playing trains and rolling around on the floor just take precedence to doing killer cardio, and today I am realizing that I'm okay with that.
So my baby step is that I have come out from behind the camera, if just for a moment, and added a picture to my profile and this post. (No, Becky, this is not permission to take pictures of me whenever you choose! I said baby step...) I would hate for my little ones to think that I was missing during all these days.
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
Psalm 139:13-14
Very proud of you, baby sister! You are definitely fearfully and wonderfully made!
ReplyDeleteWell said, my beautiful baby girl. I couldn't be prouder of you than I am at this moment. Halle is a blessed little girl!
ReplyDeleteAll I see is a beautiful young woman completing God's perfect work in her, inside and out!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it just sad that society has done this to us? We women all think we're "not good enough" by some unreachable standard that Hollywood has created. It is awful.
ReplyDeleteYou are beautiful. You look so much the same from when I remember you back in school...only appropriately older, of course.
My advice (and feel free to take it or leave it): Get dressed up in your favorite outfit - no matter what that is. Whatever makes you feel good. Do your hair and make-up in whatever way you like it best...and have someone else take a few photos of you. Or, the self-timer is always works too. Pick a photo of you and put it in a pretty frame and insert the verse you posted in the frame with it...it will be a reminder every day of how beautiful God thinks you are and how he made you in his perfect image.
Also...if you haven't read it, you HAVE to read "Captivating" by John and Stacy Eldredge. Amazing book. Helps heal women's wounds.
Halle is so lucky...that you are addressing your own issues now so you can pass your learnings on to her. :)