Our True Self Image


A few  weeks ago I went to a shopping center with my daughter. She went looking for what she needed, and I went to the cosmetics area to find an eyebrow pencil.  A couple of women stood near the same area discussing how awful they looked, and what could they purchase that would improve their looks.  I glanced over at them, and I saw two beautiful women, one older and one younger. The older had grey hair neatly combed. The younger one had long hair pulled into a pony tail. Both were medium height, and      full figured but not not plump.  My first thought upon hearing them      was,  "I wish I looked that good.  I often find myself thinking, I'm too old, too wrinkled, too fat, and too tired.  Then I found myself frustrated because I lost focus.  Like Peter I took my eyes off Jesus and glanced in the mirror.






A few days ago someone came up to me and wondered what I thought of  Miriam (not her real name)  letting her hair grow out.  Since Miriam and I are of similar age and my hair being longer, I said that I thought it looked lovely.  "Really?  You don't think it makes her look older?"  I told her no and that I thought it made her look younger.  "Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder."  Point taken.  It did make me take a long look in the mirror. What was my self image?  Do I depend on other people liking my hair, clothes, and makeup?  Is that really important to me?  We women judge other women more harshly than men judge other men. Why do we do this? 

Male or female we all have an image of ourselves.  Anyone looking at the news knows how Donald Trump feels about himself.  Is it ego, confidence, or arrogance?  You, dear Reader, can determine that for yourself.   (Okay, I should have not inserted politics here.)  

I have thought much about this recently. We should see ourselves as God see us.  When I look into the mirror of God's word, I see myself as a sinner dressed in filthy rags, yet God doesn't see me that way.  He sees me clothed in Christ's righteousness, dressed clean in white garments.  Amazing isn't it?  Now that's an image worth holding onto, don't you think?



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