Have you heard, it’s love your body day!? I challenge you to read this blog, leave a comment as to why you love your body, then re-post a link to this article. If you Tweet, the hash-tag is #lybd.
A little bit about today from pro-abortion organization, National Organization for Women’s (NOW), press release:
“The National Organization for Women Foundation announces its 14th annual Love Your Body Day to take place on Wednesday, Oct. 19. NOW Foundation launched the groundbreaking Love Your Body Day in 1998 to promote positive images of women and girls in the media and offer an alternative to unrealistic and harmful standards of beauty. Body image remains a relevant issue affecting women's health and well-being, with broader implications for the status of women in society. “
While NOW supports abortion, and that clearly isn’t loving you body, that’s not what this blog is about, but it certainly fits in without having to be explained . . . If you love something or someone you usually respect them, right? You respect their wishes, opinion, health, happiness, and so much more; well, a selfless love does, right? Lets look at this day instead of ‘Love Your Body Day’ as ‘Respect Your Body Day’. Really it’s one in the same.
Over the last few days I asked my Facebook** and Twitter** friends why they love their bodies and here are just a few of the beautiful responses I received:
Margaret Morris I love my body because who I am on the inside is represented by who I am on the outside and visa-versa.
Ashley Marie Colantuono I
respect my body because God designed me in His image, I embody his
love, grace, beauty, and passion. I am beautiful before God, therefore I
don't need the empty promises of one night stands, starving myself to
meet the social norms or disrespecting Him with how and who I love.
Psalm 31 woman, that's who I aspire to be.
Jennifer Burton Brannon It has brought forth and sustained two beautiful lives!
If you love your body, you treasure it and its beauty. Women, your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and you and all your friends should love your bodies by respecting them with all you do and say. In Gal 5:22 “chastity” is listed as a fruit of the Holy Spirit. If we guard our bodies with chastity we respect our fidelity and the bodies of others. We also won’t be taken down roads that lead to broken hearts because of, promiscuity, contraception and abortion.
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
We can also love our bodies by respecting the beauty and inherent dignity of every other person. Don’t fall prey to the stereo typical idea of Hollywood where we criticize every ‘flaw’ or ‘imperfection’ on ourselves and others. So what if her nose is different in shape or size from yours. God created man in His image and likeness (Gen 1:26). Yes, some are better looking than others; but, must we point it out?
I too can fall into commenting on other people’s physical appearance especially when it’s so commonly done. However, is this the loving thing to do when society and media already tear people down from the hair on their head to the nail polish on their toes?
Last week when I was helping with my Church’s middle school youth group, two of the 8th grade girls shared with me about how they’re made fun of at school, and even by their friends.One girl said she was called a pelican, among other things, for having a big nose. The second girl who has beautiful curly hair was called muffin top because of her curly hair. These girls cried that day at school, at home, and then to me. They’ve been made fun of for these things all their lives. When is it going to stop? This pain just breaks my heart because these girls think that they’re not good enough and need to change because of the comments made.
We do the same thing every day to others. I think it’s time we rise up against gossip, society, magazines, and say, "I, along with you, am made by God and we are beautiful in our own ways. Beauty is more than what is on the outside. Don’t allow your words to bring people down; whether it's to their faces or behind their backs. Love your body by loving your piers’ bodies as well.
Challenge: Let’s be extraordinary and rise above the critiques of our bodies.
Re-post this article and share a comment of why you love your body! If you Tweet be sure to us the hash-tag #lybd.
“I praise you, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are your works! My very self you know.“ Psalm 139:14
For the Dignity of the born and unborn,
Timmerie Millington
