I know my worth.... but do I think I'm pretty?

All my life I’ve been criticized to a certain degree about my appearance. I’ve gotten pretty much every mean joke said to me. I’ve gotten all the half way compliments. “You’re cute… for a dark skin girl” these compliments aren’t just from people of other races, but from black people as well. Recently I’ve been getting compliments and half way compliments from my brothers in Christ ,lots of nice things being said, a few not so nice things. I had someone tell me, they loved “everything” about me, but they had a hard time dealing with the fact that I’m dark skin or the fact that I wear my natural God given hair. Honestly at first it hurt my feelings. The one thing I can’t change about myself, someone doesn’t like. Then I got over it and got inspired by it. Yes I’am dark skin, there is nothing I can do about it. One thing I do know, the man God has for me will appreciate the fact God gave me the complexion he did.

I was inspired by the comment, because it sparked an idea in my head. “I know my worth but do I think I’m pretty”? I’ve spent countless nights reading the bible, searching for scriptures to find my worth. I’ve searched to see how God felt about me, what he thinks of me, how valuable I am to him as his child and how much he loves me. Growing up with massive self-esteem issues (being dark skinned, having braces, being called “too skinny”, it was beyond overdue for me to really find my worth. I know how much God loves me and how I can’t settle for less (in relationships, friendships, anything) Finding my worth in Christ has been one of the best things I could’ve done, not only for me personally, but for my relationship with Christ. Just like in a relationship between 2 people, you want to know how the other person feels about you too. I knew how I felt about God, it was up to me to find AND accept how he felt about me. (Don’t let your past confuse you and make you think you aren’t worthy of God’s love. Romans 8:39 says Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creation, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.) You have to BELIEVE how much God really loves you.

So now that I now that I know my worth in Christ, I’m living for him, I’ve been delivered, I’ve been transformed, I’ve truly repented from my sins, but how do I feel about myself, my appearance? The media does a GREAT job, at trying to tell us how to look. Stereotypes and strong holds have been passed down from generation to generation. (The whole light skin, dark skin thing) Not only does this effects women, but it also effects the men. Women have this standard of beauty that they are expected to uphold which is quite unreasonable. We’re expected to be a certain complexion, with a certain hair texture, all while maintaining a certain body type. So we have women that WANT to be cookie cutter images of other women, forgetting that we are God’s finger print. We’re created in HIS image. Genesis 1:27 says “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Now No God isn’t human he doesn’t have bones, or a complexion. Made in his imagine meaning we have attributes (fruits of the spirit) that he has, but not all. As it pertains to the way we look, I do believe God gave us what he thought was good for us (Number one reason why I am natural, God gave it to me because he thought it was beautiful.) We are his creation, don’t let what the media, or what other people have to say about it stop you from embracing what God himself gave you. Being more than conquerors is being able to conquer everything, including self-esteem issues, or minor biases’ that people may have.

Being confident in Christ and his power is being confident in whom he created you to be, and the package you came in. God makes no mistakes; he made no mistake giving you your complexion, your hair texture, your body shape, the way you speak, the way your smile is, your moles. He made no mistakes because God cannot fail. If you or anyone has an issue with how God created you to be, take them up with God. He is the creator of all things.

If a person can’t accept you for who you are, be confident enough in God to know that he has created someone that will cherish you the way your spouse should. Don’t settle for poor treatment and negative commentary about who you are from anyone. Beauty starts from within, and if they aren’t even willing to see the beauty from within because of the outside packaging, don’t waste your time. People have to realize flesh and blood isn’t that important (spiritual warfare), the battles we fight aren’t even about flesh and blood, so how are we going to let it stop us from seeing the spirit from within a person? That is kind of hypocritical, don’t be a hypocrite!!!

7/10/13 No make-up,day 2 wash N go. I'f I can't accept me in my natural state, how can I expect anyone else to.

This commentary, I’ve been experiencing the past few months has sparked an idea. Past few weeks I’ve gone without make up. (Not that I wear a lot, I’m fairly new to the make- up world, all I wear is a little foundation, mascara, and lipstick) I’ve been wearing my hair in a bun.( I NEVER wore my hair up, because I was afraid everyone would see my imperfections and focus in on them, it’s easy to hide behind big curly hair.) Now I know make up is an enhancer, make up cannot make a person prettier than what they already are. Make up just enhances what a person already has. I want to truly embrace myself without those enhancements. I want to be okay with every freckle, mole and whatever else I may have.  I’ve embraced my natural hair; I’ve embraced the shrinkage, the frizz, the puffiness, and the wonderful versatility, now it’s time to fully embrace what God has given me. I won’t be able to embrace it, if I’m covering up my “flaws”. I won’t even call them flaws; they are characteristics, things that make me unique in my own right.

Know your worth, and know that God gave you the things he feels are best for you. He makes NO mistakes!

Stop comparing yourself to to other men or women. Stop allowing people to compare you to other people. Embrace who you are and demand that people embrace who you are. If they can’t accept you, Keep calm and Move along.

If you love someone tell them

I love you

Signed,

A girl that knows her worth, and knows she’s pretty

-Destaynee