I’ve started training for my second half marathon this past
month & just finished up a not too bad run this evening. As I was finishing my hair in the bathroom I realized,
I have my body back.
Now it’s 8.5 months post-baby but I'm not talking baby weight. The baby weight came off quite some time ago. And I don’t mean I’m finally back to pre-baby shape because I have a ways to go to get there.
What I mean is, I see the beauty again. And by that I don’t mean physical beauty. As women especially I feel like we need to redefine what the word Beauty even means because we have been bombarded with such a deceptive & self-deprecating understanding of that word.
Now it’s 8.5 months post-baby but I'm not talking baby weight. The baby weight came off quite some time ago. And I don’t mean I’m finally back to pre-baby shape because I have a ways to go to get there.
What I mean is, I see the beauty again. And by that I don’t mean physical beauty. As women especially I feel like we need to redefine what the word Beauty even means because we have been bombarded with such a deceptive & self-deprecating understanding of that word.
I mean that beauty
that you find in using your body for those things it was created for.
Those things that exhilarate you.
Those things you have a burning passion for.
Those things that bring you joy.
When you are more you than any other time.
Those moments may be short or long, and there can be more than just one. One of them for me is running. Seeing how far I can push myself, what I can discipline my body to do and enjoying the fruits of it.
I get such joy out of running; physically it is great for my body but also for my mind.
It’s ME time. It’s quiet time with the Lord.
For others it may be painting or cooking or mountain climbing or triathlons or being able to play with your kids the way you want. And that’s what’s so beautiful about it—there is no number we must all meet, no size requirement you must achieve to be able to enjoy the beauty that is already in you.
Those things that exhilarate you.
Those things you have a burning passion for.
Those things that bring you joy.
When you are more you than any other time.
Those moments may be short or long, and there can be more than just one. One of them for me is running. Seeing how far I can push myself, what I can discipline my body to do and enjoying the fruits of it.
I get such joy out of running; physically it is great for my body but also for my mind.
It’s ME time. It’s quiet time with the Lord.
For others it may be painting or cooking or mountain climbing or triathlons or being able to play with your kids the way you want. And that’s what’s so beautiful about it—there is no number we must all meet, no size requirement you must achieve to be able to enjoy the beauty that is already in you.
I spent more years
than I would like to remember destroying this one & only body but God is faithful, He healed and restored the damage I had done.
But those years of torment and deception, of truly believing beauty was a number or pant size or certain caloric intake has opened my eyes to see what a great and saddening contrast there is between the world’s definition of ‘beauty’ and what God considers beauty.
From seeing myself through the lies of the enemy, to the eyes of my Creator. And trust me, God does not see our beauty in our pant size.
But those years of torment and deception, of truly believing beauty was a number or pant size or certain caloric intake has opened my eyes to see what a great and saddening contrast there is between the world’s definition of ‘beauty’ and what God considers beauty.
From seeing myself through the lies of the enemy, to the eyes of my Creator. And trust me, God does not see our beauty in our pant size.
It’s in our
hearts!
It’s when we are using the gifts & temple He has given us and finding joy in it that He is most pleased, that our beauty shines through.
It’s in our very existence because we were created in His image!
When you can look and see yourself through His eyes, you see true beauty.
When you truly find Who you are in Christ you find your beauty within, because He will radiate through you.
When you are doing & fulfilling your call in Him you find your beauty.
And no one can tell you differently when the One Who created you tells you “you are all beautiful my darling, there is no flaw in you”, Song of Solomon 4:7.
It’s when we are using the gifts & temple He has given us and finding joy in it that He is most pleased, that our beauty shines through.
It’s in our very existence because we were created in His image!
When you can look and see yourself through His eyes, you see true beauty.
When you truly find Who you are in Christ you find your beauty within, because He will radiate through you.
When you are doing & fulfilling your call in Him you find your beauty.
And no one can tell you differently when the One Who created you tells you “you are all beautiful my darling, there is no flaw in you”, Song of Solomon 4:7.
So I challenge you, have you found your beauty? Do you see
it? Show the world ladies because there
are young women out there who don’t know where to look for it and they need you
to stand up and show them!
