"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me." - Galatians 2:20

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Friday, August 5, 2011

WHAT WE SAY . . . . .

Hello Friends! As mentioned in last week's post I am taking the month of August off due to our move to Washington.

Today you will be blessed by my dear friend Megan Osborne. She is a delight and a blessing. Ten minutes with Megan will leave you overflowing with joy. Her passion is evident in her pursuit to please God. She shines brightly as she ministers to other women. In addition to being a model mother and loving wife, she recently received her PhD in Clinical Christian Counseling.

By the Spirit's leading Megan recently launched Shaped With Love Ministries. She strives to equip mother's to nurture a healthy body esteem in their little ones. Please visit her website and consider supporting her ministry to young mothers. Her material is very timely in today's culture and will surely bless you and those you know with children.


A few weeks ago I was shopping with a girlfriend at a local clothing consignment boutique. I had browsed through rather quickly, and, not finding anything in particular that I needed, I retreated to the trendy couch in the middle of the store to check my email while my friend continued to shop.
Enjoying the quiet of the moment, I was quickly distracted to a conversation taking place behind me. I turned around momentarily to see a young girl, around the age of seven shopping with her mother.

The young girl chirped happily to her mother, “Oh Mommy this tee-shirt would look so cute with those shorts!” She continued on gleefully, “and what about this tank-top with the sparkling beads!?”

The mother’s immediate retort was, “My ugly broad shoulders and flabby arms would never be seen in that tank-top!” Then, “I can never find anything to hide my fat.”
I squeezed my eyes shut feeling the hot tears sear up from within me. My heart ached for this precious and very impressionable little girl. I had to control myself from a swift jump to standing position on the couch as a “soapbox” to plead with this mother that the very words she chooses are damaging the way her daughter will view herself.

What we say verbally about ourselves, as moms, has a profound effect on our children…especially our daughters. Children look to us, as their parents, to set the tone and discover more about themselves in their relation to the world and to God. How we feel about ourselves and the underpinnings of our own body image and self-esteem have a direct impact on our children’s body image and self-esteem.

Again, what we say verbally about ourselves has a profound effect on our children.

Be attentive of:

• Known insecurities- Pray about them and invite God in to heal areas that need healing. Seek professional counsel if needed.

• Insecurities that are hidden but may surface unknowingly in verbal content- Invite God to reveal things that need to be restored by Him.

Tuck away in your heart the words found in Ephesians chapter 4, verse 29:

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

Remember that as moms, we too were created wonderfully, uniquely, and purposely by God…What better way to share the truth of beauty in creation with our children than to show them that we find the beauty in ourselves.

2 comments:

  1. I feel exactly the same way when I hear other parents talk this way about themselves... If they only thought for 2 seconds about the damage they are doing... This is one of the many things my mom got right!

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  2. I have a daughter who at the ripe age of 9 was called fat by peers at school in 3rd grade. I used it as a teaching opportunity as much as I could but was saddened by the reality of the world. I always try to remember that what ever comments I make of myself, she too will use that as the gauge to judge herself. I need to love myself just as I am, so that she will see God's making of us is perfect.

    Thank you for such a wonderful post!

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