This may seem like a silly question to ask… but why do you look in the mirror? To check for broccoli between your teeth, put on makeup, curl your hair and verify that your clothes match? My next question is… what do you see when you look at yourself? This post is mainly for women, but if you are a guy continue reading, as it may give you some insight into what women think about.  

My inspiration for this post came from a friend, Kara, who posted a very poignant few statements and questions to a group of women: "Focus on how we can be strong. What has this incredible body of yours overcome? Rather than stopping at what we are afraid of, let's all think for a minute about what this body has done for us. Has it fought cancer? Had babies? Ran marathons? What has this body of yours overcome?"

As I look in the mirror, I realize my perspective has changed over the years. Because now I don’t just see myself, but a little 3 year old “mini-me” standing there watching me.  Every time I mess with my hair too long, or fuss over my mascara, or grab a piece of my stomach, or say something in regards to not liking my hair/body/clothes/appearance; she is looking for how she should act.  And what I realized is, she is ultimately imitating everything I do.  

Body image by the world’s standards is SO messed up, especially for women. What do I want Lily (my 3yr old “mini-me”) to see when she looks in the mirror as she grows up? I want her to see a woman made in the image of God. I want her to know she is uniquely and beautifully made in her own skin, her own size, her own personality. I don’t want her to compare herself to the airbrushed models in magazines or the actresses on TV or her girlfriends.  I want her to understand the perfect love of her creator, which doesn’t require her to be perfect. I want her to be confident, but fully dependent on God. I want her to be strong, but only because God is her strength.

So to come back to my friend Kara’s words – when you look in the mirror, choose to see the victories, the scars, the memories your body has been through. Your body cannot look like someone elses because it is unique to you. I hope you love your own body, but if you don’t, you can learn to love it. You can make changes in regards to health/nutrition/fitness, which leads to an inward love for your outward body.  But an inward love for yourself can be difficult, if not impossible to achieve.  We can learn to love ourselves, through first knowing God. Because God is the author of love.  “Because we belong to him, God provides us the strength we need each day.” Philippians 4:13. Ultimately you need to know why you are beautiful, because you are an image bearer of God. I desire for you, just like I desire for Lily, to be confident in your body, you are displaying God’s love for the world to see.

Encourage a fellow woman, share or pin this post.

Love,

Kate