Sticks-n-Stones

I feel like God wants me to be personal and share some things that I’ve never shared before. Hopefully, this brings some healing to some women.

I’ve struggled with my body image for YEARS! And this is not in the way that many think. I’m not anorexic, contrary to many rumors. I have just never been able to gain weight.

And before you try to tell me that this is a blessing and that I shouldn’t complain about this, hear me out. Finding anything in my size is a serious struggle. I tell people that I hate shopping because it’s a “girly” activity, but in reality, I know that I probably won’t find anything to fit my figure. For a very long time, I hated the way that I looked. I hated the way that my body is shaped.

For my 21st birthday dinner, I spent 30 minutes in a dressing room trying on numerous dresses that swallowed me whole. I held back tears after the sales associate handed me dress after dress that just wouldn’t fit.

This has always been a sensitive spot in my life. People will constantly make comments about how I need to have meat on my bones. Or how tiny I am. I once had a friend say that I was so skinny, I looked like a holocaust victim. Yeah, someone actually said that.

And there were days when I would stand in the mirror and think:

If only my thighs were thicker… If only my hips were wider… If only…

It wasn’t until recently (and by recently, I mean a few weeks ago), that I really learned how to love my body. It wasn’t until recently that I finally saw myself as God sees me.

You are altogether beautiful, my darling,

beautiful in every way. (Songs of Solomon 4:7 NLT)

Of course, there is flaw in me. But God sees past that. When He made me, when He made us, He called us beautiful.

I want to share this story so that we can realize a number of things:

1. Watch what you say to people. If your words are not encouraging, they’re probably hurting. Choose to use words of kindness when talking to others.
2. Let someone know when their words have hurt you. They will continue to use those hurtful words until you say something about it. And if a friend continues to use those words after you’ve asked them not to, they’re not your friend.
3. Love yourself. That’s so much easier said than done. Trust me, I know. But believe that God has called you beautiful. He sees no flaw in you.

I’m not fishing for compliments. I don’t care what you have to say because I already know what my Father thinks of me.

I am beautiful. I am strong. I am fierce. I am lovely. And you are too. There is no flaw in you.

Ladies, it is time that we learn to love ourselves. It is time that we see ourselves how God sees us. It is time that we look in the mirror and speak life over ourselves, and especially over each other.

xoxo, Ticia

This post originally appeared on nyticiakizer.wordpress.com.