Self-Image: The War We Fight Against Ourselves

Earlier this summer my mom and I went to the beach to see the kites at the kite festival in Grand Haven, and to people watch (one of our favorite hobbies). As we were people watching…and possibly eaves dropping… there were two girls, probably about 12-13 years old, walked past me. One girl was taller and slimmer and the other friend was shorter and not as slim (Not fat either!) As they walked by, the taller friend was saying how she was fat. (She was definitely NOT fat.) The shorter friend then said what anyone would say to a girl that age and that small, “you’re not fat!” and she was right. However, she went on to say, “you have a thigh gap. Stop, look, there is a huge gap in between your thighs. You’re not fat!” To which the other girl responded, “yeah, but compared to most other people I am.”

Well I have something to say to those two girls. Neither one of you are fat. Yes, you are built differently, but neither one of you are fat. Not even close. Time to sound cliché, but you are both built beautifully and in the image of God.

Body image is a war that we fight against ourselves. I mean, think about it. I admit, I compare myself to everyone I pass on the street. Wishing I was shorter, had longer hair, whiter teeth, a flatter stomach, and that ever famous thigh gap. But as I’m passing that girl on the street rocking the messy bun and shorts, she’s wishing she had nicer clothes like that girl shopping with her mom in the store. My point being, we are constantly comparing ourselves to someone who is “better” than us, while they are constantly comparing themselves to someone “better” than them. It’s an endless cycle.

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.”

We are God’s MASTERPIECE!

Here’s a little poem thing I wrote a while ago. Read it. Seriously.

Masterpiece

Precisely painted

Carefully carved

Beautifully brought to life

                                    My Masterpiece.

Nothing can compare.

Mona Lisa, Statue of Liberty, Starry Night,

Nothing.

                                    My Masterpiece.

Yet you criticize, critique, kill my work.

Not good enough. Ugly. What were you thinking?

If only you knew what I know,

And could see what I see.

Then you would know that I know what I’m doing.

                                    My Masterpiece.

A slap to the face,

A jab to the heart.

That’s what I feel when you hate my art.

                                    My Masterpiece.

I love you.

Others marvel at you beauty.

Why can’t you see it too?

                                    My Masterpiece.

Turn around.

Look in the mirror.

See her?

She’s you.

                                    My Masterpiece.

Precisely painted

Carefully carved

Beautifully brought to life.

                                    My Masterpiece.

God spent so much time creating you. Before you were even conceived he was drawing, painting, and carving you. If we were to go tell Leonardo da Vinci that the Mona Lisa sucks and critique it saying how ugly she is and how it isn’t really a piece of art. Imagine how much that would hurt him. He spent so much time on her and he was so proud of his work. Well, that’s how God feels when we critique and judge not only others, but ourselves! We are God’s masterpiece.

So to the girls at the beach; neither of you are fat. You’re young and you have so much more to focus your attention on besides your self-image at such a young age. 

To everyone else; guys and girls, in the words of Aibileen Clark from The Help, "You is kind, you is smart, you is important." And I love you all mucho :)