“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10
Our bodies are amazing. We often forget to appreciate all they do for us. Sometimes we focus on our flaws, instead of seeing our own beauty.
I struggled with my body changing after having my daughter. It’s a challenge to live in a society where being thin thrives and we’re told we need to look a certain way to be considered beautiful. How so many women bounce back to their pre-baby bodies with no issues, I don/t know. I would compare myself to my friends or social media influencers, and I wanted to look just like them. But, realistically many of these women have millions of dollars, trainers, doctors, and teams of people to help them get into shape quickly. Many of us have laundry, grocery shopping, crying babies, bath time, and doctor appointments instead.
But as I have gotten older, I have realized this is exactly how GOD has created me. God created my body to be strong and to be able to procreate. When I reflect on the things God has given me I can’t help but be so thankful for my body and the abilities that I have. As I’ve become more involved in my community and studying the word of God, I’ve realized that taking care of my body, mentally and physically, has enabled me to work a full time job and take care of my family.
Sometimes in our daily routines, we overlook how much we rely on our bodies for our mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Now, as a parent, it’s so important for me to be positive about my body, so my child will grow up with body positivity. I’m sure you have heard the saying, “Do as I say, not as I do.” If only it were that easy! I see that my daughter pays a lot of attention to what I do, wear, and say. I always want to make sure I show her the right way to live a healthy life.
So this is where I add the day’s prayer back in. “May I be neither slave to my body nor a tyrant. May I be one whole person: heart, soul, mind, and strength.” Doesn’t it make so much sense?
Haillie Williamson recently got baptized with her husband, Cody, and is so grateful for the work she does at La Sierra Academy, where her daughter Lexi goes to school.
These reflections stand alone, but if you want to enjoy the prayers from May It Be So that they’re based on, please click here to request a copy of the book.