If the ___ Fits

So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
--Genesis 1:27

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
--James 1:23-25

Purple dress, $15, Converse for Target; boots, $30, Target; earrings, $4, For Love 21

Bag, $15, Target

I believe that all women struggle with body image. I have not met one woman who loved the way she looked. How sad this must make God! All of us were created in His image, and none of us (so far as I can see) are content with it! We also tend to be our own worst critics (or best, if a critic is good if critical?), and "forget" what our real image is. Our only responsibility remains to exercise [moderately] and eat [moderately] to steward the bodies God gave to us.

In writing this, as I need to heed my own advice (a la Alice in Wonderland), I am either a hypocrite or a work in progress. I have found that the way I dress can have a profound effect on the way I view myself. That is not to say that I should find worth in my clothes, or that anyone should judge my personality based on my appearance (which I have attempted at points in the past), but that I can give myself a little more grace when I [try to] look MY best. Though fashion magazines are generally the last place you'd want to look to help with body image, I have found a neat little tool that shows you how to dress for your body type . Basically, work with what God gave you instead of wishing for other things.

Ahhh... doesn't that feel good?