CELEBRATE YOURSELF
When I look in the mirror I don't see perfection. I don't see pure beauty. I don't see most of what others see. When I look in the mirror I see only me.
Here is what I see when I look in the mirror... Uneven skin tone, Displaced freckles, big lips, and crooked, discolored teeth. When I look in the mirror I see small eyes with short lashes, a nose that is pale in comparison to the rest of my uneven tone. When I look in the mirror, I see more things I wish I could change than things I would brag on.
The above mentioned visions of myself, at one time made me feel less of myself than I should have. I would look at myself and see only the many flaws I possess. I did not see the image I wished for. I would have loved to have gazed into the looking glass to see the perfect smile, complimented by a pair of deep dimples. I wished for eyelashes that were long and thick. And oh, how I would have loved a more even skin tone. But, none of those features did I have. And thus, my self esteem became bruised.
You would have never known that I was affected by all of this, but I was. I really did not think I was pretty enough, so when I heard it from others, especially men, I reacted. I enjoyed getting compliments. I needed to hear that I was good enough, that I looked good enough. Unfortunately, so many young women today can say the same. Others' validation, others' opinion mattered too much. As a result to my suffering self esteem, I entered into many unhealthy relationships.
I can't really tell you when my turning point came. All I know is that one day I decided that I wasn't going to depend on others for validation any longer. With that declaration alone, I became empowered. What I thought of myself became the only thing of importance to me. If I didn't think I was something, why should anyone else. Once I overcame that obstacle, the only compliments that meant anything to me were those from my husband.
Now, when I look in the mirror, I see a wonderful work of art. With blotchy skin, big lips and crooked teeth, freckles and a bunch of other stuff that I would have once wanted to change. The difference now is my interpretation of what I see. I am who God says that I am. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalms 139:14)
There are many women and men, who if compared to what we see in movies and magazines, would pale in comparison. But no one ever said we all had to look like Hollywood. Unfortunately, we don't recognize what is really looking back at us in the mirror. We are HIS. We were made in HIS image. HE made us all different, but we all reflect HIM.
I want everyone who looks the mirror and thinks they're not good enough to learn to celebrate the flaws and all that you are. You are beautiful. If you can't say it to yourself at this point, let me tell you, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL! Dark skin, wide hips, kinky hair, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL! Short, big ears, acne, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL! Whatever your flaws are, embrace them, and celebrate the YOU God created.
Years ago, my daughter said to me, "You celebrate yourself too much." I responded, "If I don't, nobody will!" Today, I look in the mirror and I thank God for creating me. With all my flaws, I celebrate life, I celebrate health, I celebrate me!
It is my prayer that God would open your eyes to see what He sees. That you would begin to embrace God's greatest creation, YOU! We know that God is sovereign, and that He does all things well. Look in the mirror and know that He thinks highly of you, so celebrate that! Celebrate being made in HIS image! Celebrate life! Celebrate YOU!
Psalms 8:4
II Corinthians 5:17
Ephesians 1:4
TC!