Extensive travel, back-to-back speaking engagements and piles of paperwork to complete for our lender has prevented me from my regular post this week. Thank you for your grace and understanding. I will return next Friday.
You will be blessed again by Dr. Megan Osborne in part 2, "To the Left or to the Right." Megan is a delightful woman and a godly leader. Her passion is to equip and nurture mothers to instill healthy body esteem within their little ones. Please pop over to her blog to support the incredible ministry God has given her.
While in a crowded airport last week, and on my way to speak to a MOPS (Mother-of-Preschoolers) group in California, face after face passed me by. I could not help but marvel at the vast beauty in God’s unique design for mankind. It is unfathomable when you really think that no single living human, out of the nearly seven billion living on earth today, are completely alike!
It is critical we not fall into the trap of looking left or right in a covetous approach leaving us feeling less-than about our physical appearance. Rather, we need to embrace and love ourselves fully as a creation made by God, confident in our appearance as one who is shaped with love.
Then, and only then, can we look to the left and right to behold the awesome unique beauty of all God’s children. His matchless design is truly incredible.
As a mom, I deeply desire for my children to understand that they are perfectly sculpted with love by God. My prayer is that they will fully embrace their physical being as one shaped with love … and they will be able to view others as individuals also fashioned with love by the Creator.
- - Consider what you can do today with your child to express that he or she is beautiful because God formed them.
- - If you have more than one child, point out a physical difference between siblings and lovingly explain how God, in His amazing love, chose to make them unique, exactly the way He planned.
- - Help your child (age appropriate) to memorize Psalm 139:14 (NIV) “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”
As you share these precious truths with your child this week, I pray that you too will find a deeper level to marvel at your own loveliness and intricacy. There is no standard of beauty with God. You are exquisite because you are made by the Maker.
Shaped with Love,
Megan Osborne, PhD
Great advice, Megan. No matter how old our children are, we can always speak truth into their lives and trust God to use it to shape them for His purposes!
ReplyDeleteMiss you, Hester, but you've chosen a great guest blogger!
Hey Hester and Megan! Thanks again for the amazing words of encouragement! I think I could start teaching my oldest daughter Lilly (who is 7) that Psalm 139:14 verse now! -Many Blessings, Amy
ReplyDeleteHi Susan & Amy,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments. I have passed them onto Megan and I know she'll be blessed by them. :)
You ladies are great!
Love, Hester ;)
So...tonight on the way home from work I was sharing with my husband that if things work out, I may have a great opportunity coming up. (Can't share yet, but I will if it happens.) My husband could hear the hesitation in my voice and asked me why I wasn't more excited...your words say it all, "we need to embrace and love ourselves fully as a creation made by God, confident in our appearance as one who is shaped with love." I am still working on keeping my focus on the center. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you both...and Hester prayers your way during the this exciting time!
Kim, I'm so excited for you and this possible opportunity. :) I just love Megan's heart in sharing such truth of where our true security and significance comes from. Embrace dear one, embrace. Love you, Hester
ReplyDelete