The other day I told a dear friend,
“You are beautiful.”
I followed it with,
“And I need you to hear that and believe it.“
As those words came out of my mouth, I realized that I needed to hear them too.
He didn’t mess up on me.
I remember when Andy and I were dating.
Wasn’t that long ago.
He said to me,
“You look gorgeous.”
I shrugged and walked away.
I don’t take compliments well.
My sister-in-law pulled me aside.
Lovingly she reminded me,
“You need to accept his compliments and love him back when he loves you in that way, or he’s going to stop telling you how beautiful you are.”
Deep down, I don’t want him to stop.
Sometimes when God’s trying to tell me I am beautiful, I shrug. I walk away.
Sometimes I even put my fingers in my ears and sing la-la-la.
He didn’t mess up on me.
I’ve written before about believing the wonderfully made.
I wish I could say it was a one time fix.
A day marked in my history.
A day I look back on and think,
“I never doubted it again.”
But the truth is, sometimes I still do.
When I look at photos, I find the flaws.
But He didn’t mess up on me.
I want my children to believe that it is true.
And they need to see their mommy believe it too.
You. You are beautiful and wonderfully made.
Please believe it.
{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
I needed this today. And every day. I was just talking with some other teachers yesterday at lunch about how important it is for my boys to see that I believe that I was made exactly how God wants me to be. So that they will learn that women should be confident and loving of themselves in this way because it’s the way God made them. So YES!
And thank you :)
YES. I think about everything she picks up on … I don’t want her to see me degrading myself, only to turn around and tell her not to do the same. I want to live it!
YES! we all need to hear this and believe it, friend. I am the same way with my husband, but do love to hear it nonetheless. thanks for the truth and reminder!
xoxo, Andi!
Funny, this has been on my heart lately. I actually wrote and scheduled a post about it for while I am gone. I wonder how we go from confident and carefree girls to rather insecure women who think we are fat and ugly. And how can we help our daughters avoid this? I think it is by believing we are beautiful. By not putting ourselves or our bodies down in their hearing. By truly believing we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Thanks for your thoughts Kacia.
By the way, I think you are beautiful-inside and out. I was blown away that you actually knew me at Influence. You were sweet and friendly and I appreciated that.
Yes! And it can happen in a manner of minutes-so quickly!
your words are so kind and humbling, love. thank you! xoxo!
YES.
YES.
YES.
xo.xo.xo. :)
Thank you for that…As always you’re words are such an inspiration!
Thank you for your sweet words – I couldn’t sleep one night, woke up – and jotted it down on my phone. I needed to hear it – and I think a few others did as well. humbled He used me.
xoxo!
SOOOOOO needed this right at this moment. I want to believe it. Thank you for sharing.
absolutely, Kelli! You are a gem. xo!
Such a lovely post. So simple but sometimes it’s good to be reminded of the simple things :).
Thank you, love! xoxo!
thank you for this. i react the same way to my husband’s compliments and after 11 years, i have noticed they happen less and less. i really want to respond in the way your sister-in-law advised. and completely believe this truth. thank you :)
we have a rule that I don’t have to say anything – just kiss him.
He seems to like that rule. :)
Oh girl, this is the part I always struggle to believe.
I was sharing my story the other night at a church thing and I shared how I often remind myself, when the lies fill my mind, that I am “fearfully and wonderfully made”. ALL THE TIME.
Because I forget.
I’m so glad we have Jesus.
yes!! ALL. The TIME!!!
I just found this story via the link at Hollierogue – and I love it. I love your sweet words. The truth that is within them, I know I need. He didn’t mess up on me either. And I want to be sure I live that way, so He knows that I didn’t mess up on me. I don’t want to waste His work. Sometimes it is hard to believe and remember that, like you said. But it’s worth trying to remember. so thank you. :) Love the blog too, by the way. :)
Thank you, Kiri! i LOVE how you said “i don’t want to waste His work” – i love that.
Thanks for this. It’s so important to be reminded of how beautiful we are in God’s eyes.
yes! xoxo!
Thanks for this post. A great reminder that we all need sometimes. I love the way you share your heart.
Thank you, Emily. Your kind words are extremely humbling. xo
I needed to hear this today. I did just that to my husband this morning. I couldn’t stop smiling as he gushed over me and told me I was beautiful, but I found myself looking in the mirror examining what he saw and just didn’t believe it. I kept saying, stop stop! Of course I didn’t want him to, but that’s always my reaction. Next time, I’ll just give him a smile, thank you, and a big kiss :) Much better reaction ;)
I just told this to someone else! We have a rule: I don’t have to say anything, just kiss him :) he likes that rule!! And the same goes for him when I compliment him!
Its so funny that you posted about this, because I feel the Lord has been really telling me this for a few weeks now. Just how much we are LOVED and ACCEPTED by Him, how we are PERFECT in His sight because of the Cross.
Thanks for sharing such deep encouraging thoughts friend!
Much Love!
L
Yes. we don’t have to do ANYTHING for Him to love us. I love that. A lot.
This is probably one of the hardest truths to grasp, hold onto, and let really sink into our hearts. Thank you so much for the beautiful reminder (and adorable snaps of Harlow!)
It is such a daily choice, wouldn’t you say? one that we need to encourage one another to choose.
xoxo!
loved this. you have the sweetest heart. thank you for sharing it with us.
and sidenote? i’m hoping that the bracelets featured up there are a wink that say you figured out a way to put them in the shop?!?! fingers crossed!!! <3 :)
yes :) they will be :) just figuring it all out!!
This is such a lovely post. I think its hard for most woman to accept comments. We love them deep down tho. Thanks for the reminder. You are very beautiful.
Thank you, Tanya! I wonder why it is that way, you know? I always tell Andy it is a gift to the person giving you something, to say thank you well. Does that make sense?
Thanks for this, Kacia… and for the post you linked to… Between your posts and beginning the Soul Detox plan, I think God’s trying to get at something in my life :) Working on it!!