Your Beauty is Not Defined by Your Body

It’s starting already. You don’t need to know who said what. But it’s happening in our home. Not every day but enough.

“I’m ugly.”

”I’m fat.”

”I’m stupid.”

”I’m not measuring up to what the world would define as perfect.”

Fine, I made up the last one. But that’s the issue.

They’re flooded with images, messages, comments, lack of comments, all telling them what they should be.

No matter how deep the foundation is we’ve poured, outside our walls they will be reminded of their failures and flaws.

One thing my wife has consistently told them since before I can remember is, “your beauty is not defined by your body.”

Lately, when the harmful talk creeps in, it may sound cheesy but we’re combating it with having them tell us right away, 20 times, out loud:

”I am a brave, strong, beautiful woman of God.”

Take the last couple words out if you’re not into that. Won’t hurt my feelings.

The point remains: our girls, not just ours, I mean all of ours, are walking into a war zone.

Every time they swipe their phone, every time they flip the channel, every time they walk down the street.

A war for what and who will define their beauty.

I’m hopeful they’re whispering to themselves how brave, strong and beautiful they are. Not how ugly, stupid and worthless they are.

Because the second group of girls doesn’t exist.