“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Psalms 139:14 NIV
I’ve been leading a high school girls community bible study for about a year and a half now. I’ve told them over and over again the message of the verse above. They are beautiful. They are fearfully and wonderfully made. They are God’s princesses. But even after telling them that multiple times and believing it completely for them, I struggle with accepting that truth myself at times. Way more than I should or would want to admit.
A few weeks ago we went on our family vacation. We started the weekend off in Madison, AL. Wanted to visit some friends, see a Trash Panda baseball game, worship at one of our prior church appointments, and do a little shopping.
When we got to our hotel room, I realized there was no hair dryer. I didn’t bring one since they are normally provided. I wear my hair straight almost all the time. I have to use a hair dryer and straightener. So without a dryer, my hair was going to be this yucky, wavy, curly mess.
Before kids, my hair was totally straight. But apparently 2 pregnancies can actually change the texture of your hair! I’ve never been confident or comfortable with my hair when curly. So I found myself in a funk now having to gallivant all over Huntsville with frizzy, curly hair.
Zoe, my oldest, has curly hair. She knows how to make it look good though. So she put some product in my hair and It did help it look a bit better. So off we went to shop.
We found a strip mall with a Tuesday Morning and a Five Below right beside it. So I went to Tuesday Morning of course, while Scott and the girls went to Five Below.
While shopping, I got a glance or myself in one of those giant mirrors. I stopped and just thought “ugh”. I saw my knee… and it looked like a big lump of skin was sticking way out above it. Looked so ugly to me. And my legs are so white. Ugh. And then I looked at my hair and was “ugh” all over again. I breathed heavily and stepped away, feeling rather “ugh-ly”.
As you can imagine, it took me much longer than the others to look around, so they came and got me. I checked out, and they all walked out ahead of me. After I crossed the street going to the car, this lady drove behind me. She then stopped and rolled her window down. She said, “Ma’am, ma’am, you have such a beautiful family! I mean it, I watched them all pass in front of me and they are all so beautiful. Beautiful family. And I had to see who the momma was and I have to say, you are so beautiful too! Really beautiful. You walk your walk, momma.”
Well I was completely moved! So moved by her kind words; moved by her taking the time to share those kind words with a stranger; and completely moved by the Lord.
I felt anything BUT beautiful in that moment. But God used this sweet lady to speak words of kindness into my life. To remind me that I am indeed beautiful because I am His creation. And God didn’t let me sit in that funk for long. Not even 10 minutes passed before He made sure to remind me in a very tangible way that I am His masterpiece – curly hair, white legs, pudgy knees and all.
So I have 2 challenges for all my female friends – young like my GLOW girls, and older like myself.
First, remember that you are beautiful. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are perfect as you are, because you are His handiwork. Please try to see yourself through His eyes – not the world’s. That one change can help you remember how beautiful you truly are.
Second, be that kind lady for someone else. Speak words of life to others – for people you know and those you don’t. That stranger lifted not only my head but also my spirit that day. So be a head lifter for someone. Lift their spirits. And as that sweet lady told me, remind someone to “walk their walk” – to be proud of the creation God has made them to be.
You are beautiful my friends. Don’t you forget it! Walk your walk!
Tuesdays with Sarah 