Sometimes we can be so hard on ourselves. It's easy to get caught up in a negative body image. Especially during the summer months, when I put on shorts or a bathing suit, I tend to get very critical of the reflection I see in the mirror. When I go shopping for clothes, I'm reminded I'm not quite as small as I really want to be. My body just doesn't look the same as it did when I was in my 20's.

But I have to stop and think about what's really important. I'm healthier than I was when I was in my 30's and 40's or when I weighted over 300 pounds. Yes, my body has a few flaws, but I have to remind myself that the image I see in the mirror doesn't tell the whole story. I was made in the image of God. I am an image bearer. Sometimes, I need to stop and think about what that really means.

As image bearers, you and I bear the very image of the God of the universe. The One who made the stars and planets. Time and space. Trees and flowers. The birds and the bees. The mountains and the sea. The world has so much beauty. There is not one inch of space that does not carry the mark of His magnificent handwork. Each and every creature has a beauty and significance of it's own. Yet, it pleased Him make each and every one of us unique, one of a kind, and intricately beautiful.

When I stop and meditate on the fact that I am made in His imge—a reflection of His glory, beauty, and splendor, then I don't have the same attitude about the reflection I see. We all carry a beauty that delights Him, not just on the outside, but on the inside, as well. I am reminded that I need to recognize and appreciate the fact that in all of creation, we have the unique privilege of bearing His image.

Let's strive to be the best we can be...uniquely and wonderfully made—one of a kind beautiful.