Peace

Currently I am going through the study "Made to Crave" by Lysa Terkeurst as well as participating in the 24 Day Advocare challenge. This has been an interesting journey causing much reflection and thought about how I view myself and how much I value the opinion of others when it comes to my physical appearance. I have found myself turning more to God and more to his word as I work on this journey of making my body a "temple to the Lord..". As I do this I find a inner peace that I have not had before.

In Chapter 6 Lysa asks us to reflect and choose if 1. We would rather have your physical body altered to be more in tune with what we desire or 2. Have a deep sense of beauty about who we are no matter what shape or form. This question really caused me to pause and think which I would desire. My first instinct was to have my body physically altered and fixed just like that. The area I would want fixed is my tummy...I have thought about a tummy tuck many of times.

I was always the skinny girl the size 00...but then I got older my metabolism changed, I got pregnant and had to have an emergency c section, then I got pregnant again and had another c section. These things change your body and especially the tummy area. Since then my weight has climbed and my belly has gotten bigger and flabbier.  A tummy tuck would be really tempting but would it really change anything other than my appearance?

After much thought and prayer I decided I would rather option 2...to have a deep sense of beauty and peace because that is eternal. More than a cute tummy, or jeans that fit just right I think having a peace bout you does not go unnoticed. Having a deep sense of contentment is what I would desire it spills over into so many other areas of your life. I want my girls to grow up knowing and thinking that they are beautiful no matter what and I can teach them this by feeling this way about myself.
This journey is more than just becoming healthy, losing weight, or looking better. It is about growing closer to God and coming to the realization that I am beautiful just the way He made me.