To the Girl Crying in the Mirror: I See You
It's just like any other morning or evening. You're about to climb into the shower and the dreaded moment happens: You walk by the mirror. Everything exposed, you cringe at the first glance. Then the more you look, the unhappier you become.
When did those stretch marks get there?
Have I ALWAYS had that cellulite?
Do I have a double chin from every freaking angle?
Why are my thighs so massive?
Is there ANYTHING good about this?
To this girl, I see you.
I am you.
Not too long ago, I took a look at myself in the mirror and honestly started crying. I was so miserable with the way that I looked. It didn't matter what other people said about my appearance, it was awful to me.
And maybe that's you too.
Maybe you've felt doomed since the day someone you loved told you that you were gonna be fat just like them.
Maybe you've starved yourself, fighting and straining against that fate.
Maybe you've never felt like it was okay simply to love yourself.
To this girl, I see you.
I am you.
Why is it that we (or most of us) as women never feel like it's okay just to love ourselves? Now, I'm not saying that we shouldn't eat healthy and work out, because I find great importance in those things. But why is it that we find it more acceptable to sit around and shame our bodies than it is for us to love the person who God created? Sometimes I can't help but wonder how God feels about this. I mean, we know the verses to quote, but do we really stop and think about the fact that it's GOD's Word telling us how to see ourselves?
"So God created created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them." -Genesis 1:27
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." -Psalm 139:14
His works are WONDERFUL. We are created in HIS IMAGE. WE ARE WONDERFUL. Ladies, let's think about this. When we talk badly about ourselves, we are not only wrong, but we are going against what God has said about us in His Word. That is flat out sinful!
We have got to stop with the body shaming. And it starts with me; it starts with each and every one of us. So, if you're up for it, walk alongside me in this challenge. If you hear me talk poorly about myself or my body, stop me. Speak truth to me. And if you want, reach out to me and I will do the same for you. It's time for us to love all of God's creation.
When did those stretch marks get there?
Have I ALWAYS had that cellulite?
Do I have a double chin from every freaking angle?
Why are my thighs so massive?
Is there ANYTHING good about this?
To this girl, I see you.
I am you.
Not too long ago, I took a look at myself in the mirror and honestly started crying. I was so miserable with the way that I looked. It didn't matter what other people said about my appearance, it was awful to me.
And maybe that's you too.
Maybe you've felt doomed since the day someone you loved told you that you were gonna be fat just like them.
Maybe you've starved yourself, fighting and straining against that fate.
Maybe you've never felt like it was okay simply to love yourself.
To this girl, I see you.
I am you.
Why is it that we (or most of us) as women never feel like it's okay just to love ourselves? Now, I'm not saying that we shouldn't eat healthy and work out, because I find great importance in those things. But why is it that we find it more acceptable to sit around and shame our bodies than it is for us to love the person who God created? Sometimes I can't help but wonder how God feels about this. I mean, we know the verses to quote, but do we really stop and think about the fact that it's GOD's Word telling us how to see ourselves?
"So God created created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them." -Genesis 1:27
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." -Psalm 139:14
His works are WONDERFUL. We are created in HIS IMAGE. WE ARE WONDERFUL. Ladies, let's think about this. When we talk badly about ourselves, we are not only wrong, but we are going against what God has said about us in His Word. That is flat out sinful!
We have got to stop with the body shaming. And it starts with me; it starts with each and every one of us. So, if you're up for it, walk alongside me in this challenge. If you hear me talk poorly about myself or my body, stop me. Speak truth to me. And if you want, reach out to me and I will do the same for you. It's time for us to love all of God's creation.
Response from the Dad in the Mirror:
ReplyDeleteIt happens often. The dad wakes up to get ready to go and provide for his family. He too steps in front of a mirror and often quickly glances away, wondering whether or not to shave? You see, if he shaves he actually has to look at himself in order not to hack his face up. The problem is that the dad then has to look at himself, and something tries to convince him that he isn’t THE MAN he needs to be. Somehow he just isn’t good enough!
He instantly wonders if he still has enough to be attractive to his wife after all these years. He then begins to think about whether he still has what it takes to be attractive to his employer as a good employee. If he continues to stare, his mind begins to question if he was and is good enough and strong enough to provide for his kids. After all, that is the model that he learned from his dad. Get up and get out and make it happen.
Of course, the longer he dwells on that model he begins to realize that he has become his dad, and additional thoughts awaken. What has he done? Oh the times he screwed up, the times he has fought so hard not to make the same mistakes that were made by his dad during his attempt to be different from his dad and the way he was treated as a kid.
He thinks about the repetitive speeches about working hard and not becoming a bum so that you won’t let your own family down one day. He thinks about his good intentions of encouraging his kids to fight off the bulge that seemingly runs on his side of the family, never realizing the hurt he causes instead. After all, you need to somehow be attractive in many ways: for your future spouse, your future employer, and so your kids can look at you and not be disgusted. Oh the pain of improperly chosen words of seeming encouragement and the realization that he has hurt the ones he loves most, yet again.
He thinks about the countless times he got angry over broken things that he had worked so hard to obtain for his family. He thinks about the missed opportunities of providing loving affection that was so desperately needed in the moment.
Unfortunately, the dad in the mirror has gotten many of these ideas wrong and has allowed the pressure of being THE MAN cloud his understanding and judgment.
This dad finally decides it’s time to splash some cold water on his face in order to disguise the tears in his own eyes, lest one of the ones he wants to be loved by the most should walk in and further confirm he isn’t THE MAN he has worked so hard to be.
Amazingly however, this dad picks up a towel dries off his face and continues his day by picking up a leather bound gem full of instructions on how to become the man that GOD has created him to be. He learns that mercy is new every morning, and that it’s never too late to admit wrongs and seek forgiveness. He learns that God is faithful and just to forgive him for thinking all these crazy thoughts when he simply offers them up in surrender.
This dad continues to learn what it means to love and cherish his wife and kids and just how important the matters of the heart really are. This dad continues to learn that if he will ultimately seek God’s Kingdom first that he will be more than enough of a man to love and serve his family.
Finally, this dad recognizes the need to offer an apology for any words that would have caused his daughter to ever repeat the cycle of looking in the mirror with thoughts of shame and guilt over appearance. This dad not only hopes, but prays that his daughter sees beyond all of his failures and inconsistencies and sees that his heart is truly to be a great daddy to her, thus acting more and more like his Dad in heaven acts towards him.
The truth, as his daughter reminds him, is that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and that we are being made more like Christ. It’s a daily fight!