Have I got it?

I made her pretty and not beautiful,

Because I knew her heart,

And knew she would be vain...

I wanted her to search our her heart,

And to learn that it would be

Me in her

That would make her beautiful...

And it would be Me in her

That would draw friends to her.

A friend of mine gave me a poem with several stanza's like this based on verses throughout scripture that speak to the heart of a woman. This one comes from 1 Peter 3:3-5a "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful."

Honestly, I've been struggling with my self-image a lot. I've been an athlete all of my life up until a year ago. My body was strong and thin. Now, I've got jiggly places I didn't know could jiggle (I give you permission to laugh there). So, while I have an awesome man in my life who is constantly reassuring me, there is a void; a void that is drawing me back to God for my reassurance. I have not been asking my Savior the question, "Am I lovely?" If I had, I would know that in his sight, I am captivating. I am his daughter whom he takes delight in. I've been listening to the voices of the world around me when I should be listening to my God who loves me. For any other women who struggle with this, I understand. Check out these lyrics by Barlowgirl.

Mirror, Mirror on the wall, Have I got it?

'Cause Mirror you've always told me who I am

I'm finding it's not easy to be perfect

So sorry you won't define me

Sorry you don't own me

Who are you to tell me

That I'm less than what I should be?

Who are you? Who are you?

I don't need to listen

To the list of things I should do

I won't try, I won't try

Mirror I am seeing a new reflection

I'm looking into the eyes of He who made me

And to Him I have beauty beyond compare

I know He defines me

You don't define me, you don't define me

With that, I'm out like the world's standards...who needs them anyway?