A letter to me

I received this beautiful idea from one of my favorite blogs, Glitter and Grace (http://www.glitterandgrace.com/), the author, Sara, is charming and delightful in every way!  Please be sure to check out her glitter-tastic site!  The quotes used below in my letter are Sara’s words because I do not think I could have said it better myself.

To the body that belongs to Lauren,

The power that spoke hummingbirds to flap their tiny wings 80 times per second, the might that constructed Mt. Everest to climb 29,000 feet into the sky, and the artistic ability to create 8.7 million unique and exquisite animals, the Lord of ALL creation formed YOU!  He dreamt you up in his heart, formed you together with his hands, and placed you in this world for a purpose.  It wasn’t an accident that your big hands were matched with big feet.  He didn’t make a mistake when he housed a large amount of excitement inside that “itty bitty” muscular frame.  He didn’t say “Oops” when he sprinkled freckles across your fair skin.  He knit you together, He called you beautiful and His.  To look at his artwork and secretly wish your lips were fuller, your wrinkles fewer, your chest bigger, your legs longer, your nose smaller, and your cheekbones higher is so hurtful.  When you think about all you would change you’re telling Him his work wasn’t enough.  Do you know what else is hurtful to Him?  When others criticize you; you may be hurt by the words that they say, but you are not to believe them because you were created uniquely.  “You were not meant to look like everyone else, that’s what’s so perfect about you.”  You will never be curvaceous and tan with long legs and someone who looks good as a blonde.  But that’s ok, because you were built to be strong with defined arms and legs, fair skin and dark hair, all wrapped up in a relatively small package that is definitely larger than life.

You are beautiful and I’m so thankful for you.  Thank you for movement, to run and to dance.  Thank you for accepting the challenges of races, weight lifting workouts, and adventurous sports.  Thank you for executing each demand I place upon you while in the physical therapy clinic.  Thank you for healing when I scrape my knee or jam my finger.  Thank you for the wrinkles that are reminders of laughing and smiling too much.

“I hope to care for you better. To thank you daily for housing my soul, to be proud of you without flaunting you or comparing you to other women, and to protect you and save you for the one you will call your husband someday. I'm glad we got stuck together, because you have helped make me who I am, and we have a whole lot more living to do together.”

Love,

Lauren