Authentically Me, Authentically You...

        Have you ever felt, too tall, or too short? What about too dark or not dark enough? As women we have all felt insecure at one time or another. Maybe we weigh too much or not enough (believe it or not, that’s a thing too). Do you ever look in the mirror and wish you were someone else? We all have our insecurities about ourselves. Many of us have these insecurities in the early years of our womanhood. And as we get older, we begin thinking about our health and longevity. Whatever the reason is for our securities, or concerns the fact remains, we all have them.
            When these thoughts cross our minds, the scriptures about how fearfully and wonderfully made we are seems to be forgotten. The scriptures about how intricately formed we are as woman, escapes us. Isn’t it strange how the enemy whispers to us and we hear it loud and clear? But when scripture yell at us we can’t hear it at all. We find ourselves starved for validation or always looking for someone to say, “You look nice today, or Did you change your hair?” Did I hear someone say, “Did you lose weight?” Ohhhh Sis,  that’s the one! That question makes the sparkle come alive in our eyes, it puts a bounce in our step, and a smile on our faces. We have no problem believing the compliments of others. We say, “Flatter me why don’t you, I’ll take it.”
            What would happen if we reacted the same way when we heard what God says about us? You know that body that you don’t like  that body that’s too big, or too small. That body that’s too dark or too light, that same body that we wished belonged to someone else; yeah, that’s the one. It is a part of Christ’s body. 1 Corinthians 12:27 says: “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”. 1 Peter calls you “ God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” Yes, Sis! That body of yours, that hair of yours, it’s His. And He thinks good thoughts of you. He is in love with that body of yours. He wants to tell you that you look nice today, and that hair, guess what, He knows the number of those hairs on your  head. Oh yeah Sis. He sees you and He wants me to tell you that its ok to put that bounce in your step, that sparkle in your eyes and that smile on your face. He asks you this,  “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit?”
            Go ahead. Do you Sis. Be confident today. Wear that outfit that makes you feel good. Let those natural coils show or even straighten those coils, it’s all up to you. Maybe you’re not a kinky chick, that’s fine, flaunt those beautiful tresses and laugh out loud! Yes, I said laugh out loud, it’s good for the soul. Better yet get with a few of your SisterFriends and laugh out loud together. There is nothing better than getting with your SisterFriends and building each other up. Why, because you are WONDERFUL and so is, she.  Your authenticity is what makes you, you. And it’s ok to be you. It’s ok to be comfortable in your own skin. If you were not you, there would be no you, and I would miss YOU!  Guess what, you would miss you too. So, don’t change a thing to please others. Let the authenticity flow! Try loving you just the way you are. Then, any changes that occur will be natural, it will be changes that you approve of and changes that you welcome. It’s ok to change if those changes are changes you want and you feel good about. But learn to live, love, and laugh with your authentic self!
 
Guest Blogger,
Latonia Dessasau