Family dinner. Such a fun time. It doesn’t happen as much as I’d like. I think we’re lucky to sit down together at a meal 3 days a week. But – I’ll take what I can get.
Tonight was one of those nights. No cross country meets. No worship practice. No church. No outside commitments. We were just home enjoying a meal together.
We were talking about school days and grades and cross country practice when all of a sudden Alli bursts out with, “I hate my thighs. They’re so big!”
Wait! What?!?
She’s 13. She’s tiny. Her thighs are not big! Where did that come from? Apparently another girl at school has legs the size of a toothpick and she’d rather have those legs. Comparison…..yuck! It’ll get you every time.
But it didn’t stop there. As soon as she said that the boys chimed in with what they didn’t like about themselves.
Alex: “One of my ears is closer to my head than the other one.”
It is??? I never noticed.
And Mookie: “I hate that my one front tooth is just a little bigger than the other one.”
Excuse me? What?
And they went on and on after that without even skipping a beat about all these things they don’t like about themselves.
My husband and I just stared at each other. My heart was broken. They’re perfect! Beautiful! Handsome! Wonderful just the way they are! Don’t they see that?
Clearly not! Are these things all they can see about themselves? Don’t they see what I see?
So we had them go around the table and say something they loved about themselves.
We started with my daughter. And she thought and thought and thought before she could come up with anything.
She finally thought of something. And so did Alex and then Mookie. And then we got to Mikel and he said, “I hate everything about myself!!!!!”
After we all looked at him in shock, he said, “I just wanted you to hear how dumb that sounds.”
Duh! So dumb….but who says it? Go ahead. Raise your hand.
And we went on to encourage them not to compare. Encouraged them to be okay with who God made them. That you don’t have to be perfect to be beautiful or handsome. There’s no such thing as perfection.
And then I made a mental note to check up on what I’m saying about me. I’ve been guilty of it too. Of believing those lies in my head. I’m not pretty enough. Thin enough. Smart enough. Talented enough. __________ enough. The list could go on and on.
I’m sure at times those thoughts slipped out of my mind, right through my mouth, and right into their ears.
Forgive me, Lord!
If you’re like me (or my kids, apparently), it’s time to make a change. It’s high time we starting believing – and saying – the truth. You’ll find what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for flaws, you’ll find them. But it’s time we start seeing ourselves the way He sees us.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well. (Psalm 139:14 NIV)For we are the product of His hand, heaven’s poetry etched on lives, created in the Anointed, Jesus, to accomplish the good works God arranged long ago. (Ephesians 3:10 The Voice)
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. (Ephesians 3:10 NLT)
Say it with me:
I am one of God’s works. I am wonderful.
I am heaven’s poetry etched in a life. I am a product of His hand.
I am a masterpiece. God’s best work of art.
I am beautiful, lovely, handsome.
When He created me, He looked at me and said, “She’s made in my image. My likeness. I love her.”
These things are all true about you. About me. About my kids. It’s time to start seeing the positive first. It’s time we become so captivated by the truth that we don’t have time for the lies any more.
What do you love about yourself?