Define: Beautiful

Ever since 6^th or 7^th grade, I don’t think I’ve ever really been happy with the way I look. Puberty hit and all of a sudden I was completely absorbed with my appearance. Like most girls growing up in our society today, I considered myself ugly for a really long time, sometimes I still do. I wasn't happy with my body 3 years ago and I'm certainly not happy with my body today. Boys don’t call me pretty, so I must just be hideous, right? I have never been the skinniest girl in my class, so I must be the biggest.  My hair isn’t long enough, my skin isn’t flawless, my teeth aren’t glowing white, my pants size sure as hell isn’t 00… Even now, at 19 years old, a lot of my time is spent counting the ways I fall short in regards to the world’s definition of feminine beauty. I’m not telling you this so that you feel some deep need to compliment me or anything like that, but I’m telling you this and I’m opening up about my own insecurities because it’s important that we remind ourselves of the fact that our world makes us believe total crap. Every single day, whether you realize it or not, we are all fed these terrible lies that make us dislike our bodies and even more so, dislike who we are entirely. We aren’t happy with our bodies, so the rest of our positive qualities are thrown wayside. “Yeah, I’m smart and funny and talented, BUT I’m overweight so who cares about all of that…” I think it’s safe to say that many of us catch ourselves picking at our own appearance whenever we walk past any sort of reflective surface. If you’re not a part of the majority in this case, I honestly applaud you. But for the rest of us who struggle with what we see in the mirror, this is for you…

I want you to know that you are beautiful. I realize that words are just words and no amount of compliments or “warm fuzzies” will ever fix the things you don’t like about yourself, but it’s important for you to know that you are beautiful. I PROMISE YOU that there is at least ONE person, if not ten or twenty, who absolutely thinks the world of you and would be shattered if they heard the negative thoughts you have about yourself. You serve a purpose that no one else will ever be able to. You touch peoples’ lives in ways that, in simple terms, can change the world. That is beautiful. You are beautiful. So what you’re a little broke out this week? Who cares if you gained 20 pounds in the last 3 months? YOUR LIFE IS STILL BEAUTIFUL. Life is so much more than your pants size or the number on the scale. Life is about how your eyes light up when you talk about your passions. Life is about how your laughter can brighten someone’s day. Life is about finding beauty in the little things, not about looking a certain way.

It took me a really long time to learn this, and I forget it a lot, but we are all so much more than our bodies.  We are made up of beautiful moments and incredible talents and irreplaceable love.  As human beings, we are each made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). He made you for no other reason than the fact that He loves you. And since He is perfect, He only makes the best possible versions of every single thing… GOD MADE YOU PERFECTLY. Despite the list of things you don’t like about yourself, you are a masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:14). To put it simply, you’re beautiful. Sometimes it isn't easy to see, but I promise you that your beauty is real. 

This New Year I invite you to find the beautiful parts of yourself that you may have forgotten and share them with the world. Don't be afraid to embrace who God has made you to be. I'm praying for you. Be His!