Beauty and the Inner Beast

Beautiful - Lovely - Gorgeous - Cute

So many of us complain about our appearance . Everything from weight to hair color to height to shade of skin . It would seem that the majority of those complaints can be corrected in an instant . If you disagree with your height you wear higher shoes or elongating clothes . If you do not prefer your hair color you can go to the store and for a low, low price change it . Feel as though your skin tone has you blending in with the wall? Well sit out side a minute, a hour or even in a high powered light box and boom you're a bit different than you where before . Weight however is another story . You may be able to cause it's fluctuation instantly, but when you do, it will only last for an instant . I'm not a supporter of extreme diets, though I am tempted by them . Who wouldn't want to become leaner, more muscular, etc. in only ten days with a little pill doing all the work ?

Having lived in my share of female dominated environments I do believe I've heard of every diet that is . I've seen people go to extremes to drop or gain pounds . I've also had my share and perhaps your share as well of people giving their unsolicited and solicited opinion on my appearance . With each compliment or critique I've done my best to take it with a grain of salt . Decide for myself if I am o.k. with how I appear . After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder is it not ? And who has to look at me more than, well me? With all the different compliments, critiques, diets, work out plans, trainers, and self evaluations I have forever battled and perhaps continue to battle with this one question; "At what point in all of this conversation are we , am I saying to God, I disagree with your choice." ?! At the end of all the public images of what is healthy, beautiful, and "well proportioned" only you, God and perhaps your doctor, know what is well and good for you . The sad truth is for some of us gluttony or lethargy has gotten the best of us and it may be good for us to loose or gain some lbs. If it is deemed to be good for that change to be made, then I doubt change would serve it's purpose if it only last momentarily. If it can be "solved" by a quick fix, is it really solved ? If change is truly necessary it will require a life style change . The idea that my habits today will be my children's habits tomorrow does not leave my mind when it comes to health and nutrition.

I was talking with a dear pregnant friend of mine just a few days ago about work outs, food, taking care of your self, family, and sometimes the world . We discussed our insecurities, pride points, and the volume of the voices of those that surround us . As females a friend and I can be the exact same weight and height yet wear different sizes. It's about those BEAUTIFUL God given curves ladies! We are unique with every luscious inch of our being. I love fashion, magazines, and television shows that are fashion focused, but I realize that the majority of the female brain(s) can not see these things and not compare themselves . They can't gaze upon a magazine cover with out feeling less beautiful than they are just because they find no similarity between the cover girl and themselves . These covers might as well be our dearest friend yelling in our face "you are not beautiful", for most female brains that is. I wouldn't dare sum everyone into one category . But for those of us that struggle with "that voice"......Loves, beauties, SISTERS, let go of the comparison and thank God for the BEAUTIFUL and WONDERFUL creation He has made you to be . Yes, I believe in working out. Yes, I believe in eating healthy a majority of the time . Yes, I believe there is such a thing as too much working out and too much concentration on what you are eating . I saw a sign once that said something to the effect of "Treat your body well. If you do not where will you live?". I would repeat it often to my girls that had health issues, body issues, etc . I continue to repeat it to myself when I am tempted by the desire to work out till I'm sick or to starve myself . Only YOU, God, and perhaps your doctor know if you are treating your body like a temple. According to 1 Corinthians 3: 16-17 that is what we are, God's temple . Made by His design with His breath .

I have worked with trainers, doctors, friends, programs, diets and I don't even know what else . I have battled illnesses that kept me from eating for long periods of time . Heck, I've even had a parasite!! Yes, a evil little creature eating my nutrients and what felt like trying to kill me . I got that dern amoeba from a salad no less . Yet, my body remains, give or take several pounds a curvy, luscious and strong temple . For me at the beginning and end of my days I have to answer that question in my head, "Am I saying to God, You are ugly?" by being the one who speaks and thinks worse of myself and how I am created . If I believe the Bible to be the inerrant word of God, and if I believe, Genesis 1:27 to be true; then yes, when I speak ill of my own image I am saying to God, "You are ugly".

As I practice my own preaching I encourage you to embrace Psalm 17:15. It's a verse the Lord highlighted for me while in college . It's come to my insecure aid many times . I at times have to repeat it to myself when times get tough, the voices get loud, or the enemy gets sneaky, but I am a reflection of my creator and to speak ill of my reflection is to speak ill of He who created me . That's something I just can't tolerate from myself or anyone else .

and am still....

I was then.....

......fearfully and wonderfully made

......and apparently a little sassy !

So, the next time you go to speak ill of your self or another just remember, that's my beautiful friend you're talking about and I won't tolerate it.

Verses Referenced Above:

Genesis 1:27 KJV "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created he him: male and female created He them."

Psalm 17:15 KJV "As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness."

1 Corinthians 3: 16-17 KJV " Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's spirit dwells in you ? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Psalm 139:14 NLV Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous--how well I know it.

Psalm 139:14 KJV - "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."