I stepped on the scale and closed my eyes. “Please move,” I demanded. “DOWN. Move down.”
The dreadful torture machine blinked once, twice… and thus the hopes of a week of salad and protein eating went down the drain.
Great.
Let me tell you right now – of all the curses humanity inherited from Adam and Eve’s fall, hormones must be the most annoying one.
If you are a woman, they torment you from puberty to – uh, say, 60 years old. That’s almost half a century of ups and downs of emotions, energy, and, to many of us, weight fluctuations.
It just ain’t funny. Not.at.all.
I stepped down from the scale, determined to stay the course of my journey. I put on sneakers and workout clothes and stepped outside for my morning walk. [Did I tell you I was angry?]
While climbing the first steep hill right off my driveway, an inventory of the previous week ran through my mind: I stuck to my eating program and exercised three times that week. I drank plenty of water and slept well. And yet, my metabolism seems to have parked.
“Hormones,” I thought. “I hate hormones.” Frustration built up as my legs marched toward the top of the hill.
That’s when that Still Small Voice interrupted my tirade:
“Give Thanks… And open your eyes to see what I see.”
As the uphill journey became increasingly harder with each step, God shifted my thoughts from the pettiness of my personal struggles to the mountains I climbed by faith… and the valleys some of my friends are crossing today.
I remembered my neighbor who currently struggles with terminal cancer, and how I know he wishes he could climb our neighborhood’s hills and run around the lake.
I remembered how, not long ago, my legs would not have had the strength to stand, much less run, as several health problems made it impossible to move at a fast pace… for a long, long time.
I remembered how hormones made it possible for me to conceive my precious daughters, while so many women struggle with infertility every day.
And finally, I remembered those beautiful words written by David on Psalm 139 – a wonderful invitation to shift our perspective from what we see in the mirror to what God sees when He looks at us:
“Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! (verses 13-14 – The Message – emphasis mine.)
As I repented from my shallow point of view, God filled my heart with thanksgiving and praise.
And so I thanked Him for legs that may not be as muscular as they once were, but are healthy and strong enough to carry me throughout my days…
And because, regardless of how much I weigh or how many new wrinkles show up on my face as the years go by, He sees me one way and one way only: beautifully, skillfully, and wonderfully made.
We are beautiful, not because the world says so…
Nor because the scale confirms…
Or because our hearts agree.
We are beautiful because we are made in His image, redeemed for righteousness… and sealed by His blood.
We are beautiful because our Daddy says so.
And no mirror or scale should convince us otherwise.
[bctt tweet=”We’re beautiful because our Daddy says so. No mirror or scale should convince us otherwise.” username=”PatHolbrook”]
“Abba Father, help us see ourselves as you see us. In Jesus’ beautiful Name!”
Beautiful word today! Thank you for allowing us to see your thoughts during a struggle. Blessings!
#IntentionalTuesday neighbor ~
Thank you, Megan! Glad you visited!!
This speaks to women of all ages and definitely to me. Being healthy and being God’s woman is what it’s all about. Scales don’t measure who we really are. Thanks for sharing.
Amen, Frieda! That’s what we should really focus on: Taking care of our bodies, the temple of the Holy Spirit. Blessings to you!!
This is an ongoing struggle for me personally. It’s so easy to get sucked into how society says we should look….even when you know what God’s Word says about us. Thank God for the Holy Spirit who brings God’s Word back to our remembrance. Thank you for your post.
Cynthia
Well, Cynthia, you are a beautiful woman inside and out. I think that prayer at the end is one God certainly wants to answer… “Lord, help me see myself as You see me.”
Blessings!!
Patricia, the Lord has been shifting my perspective on my body too. I actually destroyed my scale because I was seeking its affirmation every morning — waiting for the number to tell me whether or not I could be happy with myself every day. And slowly, the Lord is showing me that my body is not given for the pleasure it gives my eyes or others’ (except my husband’s, of course ;-). It is given for His usefulness and His glory. My arms are to be strong to love and serve my family and help the weak. My legs are to be strong to carry me where He has for me to go. I love that He led you to a place of thankfulness — even for our crazy hormones! Thank you for what you share here. I’m glad I dropped by from the linkup.
Amen, Shauna. I love your comment. We are to keep strong and healthy to carry out God’s purpose for our lives… and that should be enough! Glad you stopped by as well!!
Another great message Patricia; The way we see ourselves is not the way God sees us. Oh how I need that reminder every second of every day. May God continue to bless you, family and ministry by the incredible power of His Spirit
Thank you, Walt. We all need that reminder every day!! Blessings to you and yours!
“We are beautiful because our Daddy says so.” Amen, amen, amen! That is the truth! So happy to be your neighbor on the #RaRaLinkup today. You are truly beautiful. 🙂
Thank you, Lauren! So glad you stopped by! Come back often! 🙂
Great message Patricia! So many powerful truths. Great reminders. We are so much more than. ..
The Lord created us to live out what He created us to be.
Thank you, Susan! God bless you!
Wonderful, uplifting thoughts, Patricia!
Yes, I’ve often reflected upon my aging face in the mirror, but I’ve learned to accept who and where I am in this stage of life, knowing I’m God’s child, and I’ll always be beautiful to Him.
Blessings, my friend!
Amen, Martha! God bless you,
Wow! It like you were with me when I stepped on the scale this morning. I’m 58 and my hormones have been off the chain! Thanks for this encouragement and reminder to look at myself through the eyes of my Daddy! Love to you.
That’s funny, Susan. That’s just like our sweet God, to send you this encouragement just in time! Blessings!!