Beautiful girl

My entire life I have been judged unfairly. And no matter what I have said or done, I've always been negatively attacked for one thing, my body type.
When I was little, no one thought anything of the fact that I was so skinny, especially those who knew my parents, it was easy enough to see where I got my high metabolism from. But, as I got older, things changed. I noticed that girls would look at me with harsh, judgmental eyes, even if I had never said a single word to them in my life.

Growing up, through those awkward, teenage, junior high years, I was accused of many things, including having an eating disorder, whether it be anorexia or bulimia. Even my own friends, though jokingly, would flippantly say mean things about how skinny I was, their words were full of envy and disdain towards me.
The thing I never understood was why they couldn't seem to accept my size for what it was (and is). It was as though they thought that it was my doing. I was the one who picked my body type, when in fact, I had nothing to do with it.

To this day, I still get dirty looks and people still make jokes and it reminds me of back when I was in jr. high and high school all over again.

And all I have ever wanted to say to each of those girls who have ever looked at me scornfully is this; you are beautiful.

God created you in his image, he made you with the specific body type that you are and it wasn't a mistake. Media and our culture have twisted our views on what looks "good" and what does not. But the world's standards are not God's standards. When God created Adam and Eve, he saw what he had made and said that it was "good". He didn't say it was "okay" or "fine", he said it was "good". Now, after the one, true, living God created Eve, somehow I doubt she looked down at her body and said "Um, you made me wrong. I think I look ugly."
I kind of don't think that she was concerned with self-image (at least not yet). Humans tend to elevate appearance much higher than it ought to be.
Sure, I think we can all agree that being in shape is a good thing. Eating healthy, staying fit... it's a way to take care of the body that God has given you. But, that's not my point. My point is that God made you beautiful.
Maybe it doesn't seem beautiful to the guy at school or down the street or whatever. But, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and God beholds you as stunning.
He doesn't make junk.

Don't waste your time envying someone else's body. You will never have their exact body because you are not them. You are you. And you are made in the image of God.

It doesn't matter what body type you have, you, as a human, will always find something you don't like about your body. So why envy someone else's?

My story continues as such, I have never had an eating disorder in my life. God gave me this body because he wanted to and it served me very well for the 7 years that I did ballet. But, this same body that so many girls have envied now has an incurable auto-immune disease that's basically arthritis in a nut-shell.
Sure, I understand that some girls would rather be skinnier, but, I would rather be able to open jars and doorknobs without being in massive pain. God creates us each uniquely and with a purpose. Don't undermine God.

And better yet, lets not think of ourselves more highly than we ought to, especially by prioritizing image, because that's prideful. Whether you think too much or too little of yourself, it's pride.

I do realize this rant was somewhat random, but I want to encourage you girls and even guys out there, know who you are and whose you are. And don't elevate body image, it's not worth it.

Signed,
gypsy girl

Never stop learning.

God has been teaching me a lot lately. He's been teaching me how pride really does come before a fall, that sin really is disgusting, and how a life of independence from God is really no life at all.
I believe God places people in our lives to convict us, push us and live life with. And he has placed some pretty amazing people in my life.

I think too easily, we as Christians, take the simple, basic principles of the Bible, for granted. Instead of realizing that those principles are the foundation on which we stand in the truth of God.

All this to say, it really does all connect, I promise. Though, today I have been rather A.D.D., I swear all of this has a point.
And the point is this, God purposes everything for a reason. He places us in situations in life to help build our faith, he places people in our lives to keep us accountable and he gives us the foundations and principles in which to firmly stand upon.
We serve an awesome God.

I continue to grow and learn and make mistakes, get back up again and then try for the thousandth time to figure things out.
We serve a patient God.

Through struggles and trials and doubts, there's triumphs, reiterations and joy.
We serve a big God.

Every time I find myself starting to wander like a stupid sheep, he takes his staff and gently pushes me back in the direction I need to go.
We serve a personal God.

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26 (emphasis added)

Signed,
gypsy girl