Loving You, Just as You Are

Learning to love you, just as you are. The struggle can be real. We read magazines, watch movies, and just live daily in a world filled people that we view as more "perfect" than ourselves.  Her hair is cuter, her legs are longer, her eyes more beautiful, her laugh more contagious. You have to learn to love yourself. To accept your self-perceived "imperfections." Once you love yourself, you can love others. If you cannot find room within your heart to love yourself, then loving others will also be impossible. You are made in God's image, and if you think of anything less than perfection when you think of our Father, our King, the one and only God, then you are just silly. He is perfect, He is the standard of perfection, He is the definition, the creator, and the entire essence of perfection.

Thus, so are you!

I have never been the skinny girl. I was never the girl that had boys just lining up, wanting a minute of my time, a second to talk to me. I never went more than a minute in front of a mirror without criticizing something about my body, my never-been-flat-ever stomach, or the way my pants make me look even more fat, which seemed impossible, and that pesky blemish on my face. Never walked past a skinny girl, and not wished away the extra pounds on my body, just to look  like her. Not that I wasn't active, not that I ate a lot extra, I was a typical teen, I was active in sports all throughout each school year, and loved being outside doing things in the summer.
 

Every girl you ever meet will be able to tell you one thing they don't like about themselves (and every guy for that matter, but my focus is the ladies) . I guarantee, it is only human, but I know even if it is that her feet are too big, arms too flabby, stomach too round, her straight hair, or something sillier, they will have something immediately come to their mind. Thank you world. Thank you for teaching us as young girls, that skinny, blemish-free, and toned are the only beautiful. Thank you for driving young girls to this increased negative self-worth. But you don't have to accept it, don't conform. Take care of yourself, and take time to love yourself. If you need motivation and encouragement. Take a minute, write down the things you love. Even if it is a short list, because you self-criticize so much, write what you love. Write it on your bathroom mirror. "I am beautiful." Write it on a sticky note throw it on your dresser. Set an alarm on your phone, reminding you that God made you just the way you are, and He loves you the way you are, you are EXACTLY what He intended for you to be. Do what you need to do to remember that you are beautifully and wonderfully made by our perfect and amazing heavenly Father.

We don't have to be perfect. We are forgiven and loved. We will fall down, we will make mistakes. No human is without sin, thank you Eve and Adam. We are all guaranteed eternal life when we give up our lives to Him. Whatever happened in your past cannot even come close in comparison to what God has in store for your future. In order to change your future, you have to change your focus. Focus on positivity, focus on the good things, focus on deleting the negative influences in your lives, and even more importantly the negative thoughts. Smile. Today will only be as good as you let it. Make it a great day! And remember, God loves you, because of who God is, not because of how you look or what you did to "deserve" it today, but because God is love.

Ladies, you are loved. You are perfect, and imperfect, because You are a sinner, and forgivable. You are never forgotten. You are precious, wonderful, and needed. Your heart that is crying out for attention, turn those cries into prayers. He will always listen, He will always hold you, He will always be there. You want a guaranteed let-down-free relationship? Lean on Him, love Him, talk to Him, cast your cares upon Him. God will always care.

In John 16:33b Jesus says, "in this world you will have trouble, but take heart, because I have overcome the world." No matter the struggle for improvement, no matter the self-perceived imperfections, no matter the obstacles, Jesus wins, He always wins, and you will always prevail when you lean on Him and His ever-present guidance. Ask Him for help, read His Word. He made you, and there is a great instruction manual to go with you in your walk with Him.

So don't waste another minute looking for imperfections in God's perfection. You are perfect, just the way you are.

Love to all you beauties. -Rach