Seeing ourselves the way God does

When I think about the love I have for my son, I think of a love unlike any other. It is a unconditional love. A love that cannot be replaced or diminished. I love my son more than myself, I would give my life for him in a heartbeat.

 I think about this love and then I think of my heavenly fathers love for me. I can't even fathom a love like that. I am after all only human. Much in the same respect is the way we look at our children. When I look at my son, I see possibility, and hope. I look at him and he is the most beautiful human being I have ever seen. To see him smiling and happy melts my heart. I delight in him when he does something good, and I believe that he can truly be anything he wants. Although he is only three and I know he is so young, I still have hope for his future. I think that must be how God sees us as his children. He looks at us and he sees possibility and beauty and He loves to see thriving and happy. He only wants the very best for us.

I know all of these things are true and somehow looking at myself and seeing these things is not as easy. Sometimes seeing beauty and love and delight in myself is so hard. I tend to only see my flaws. The things that are wrong with me. I focus on those things instead of the good.

Today I have decided that instead of focusing on all the negative I am going to see the positive in myself. I am a kind, I am smart, I am beautiful, I am a good mother, and good friend, and so many other things that I don't give myself credit for. I can look at all those positive words I just wrote about myself, and it still is hard to really believe them. I am not doing this to boost my self-esteem, but to really try and see myself the way God does.

Today I challenge you to really look at yourself and find the good in yourself. Don't focus on all the things you consider flaws, but see the things that are great about you. Love yourself as God does.

Women, competition and gossip.

One thing that has been bothering me here recently and has been on my mind is how so many of us women find it so hard to say kind words to each other. Or even to build each other up. I myself am very guilty of this. I have been on the inside of the gossiping circle, and I have also been on the outside. It is so easy for us to look at another person and completely pick that person apart. I have heard myself and others say things like "oh she has put on some weight", or "did you see how she had her hair styled?". I have thought long and hard about this and I have decided that I am going to try my best as a woman of God to lift up my sisters in Christ. Not to tear them down limb by limb. Honestly in my opinion that is what causes so much self hate for us in our lives. If others can't accept us for who we are, how can we accept ourselves ? We need to remind ourselves that we are beautiful creatures of God, specifically designed by Him. He made us all different sizes and shapes. He gave us all different personalities and gifts and we should be able to appreciate those things in each other. Thanks for reading this! I hope it inspired you to be a little kinder to the women in your life. We all need love and encouragement.