{July 24 and 25, 2017}

I always wonder why God gave me the body I have. I'd say that I'm of average height, average-ish build, have a nice face and smile, but I've always been insecure about my body.

I wish I had a different body, one that wasn't full of injuries and pain, one that was maybe a little taller and leaner, one that I can dress in a potato sack and still manage pull it off. I just wish that I looked pretty and felt it too.

On days I feel bad about myself or the way I look and start to compare myself to others, I make a list of the things I like about myself. It helps me recognize my value when I feel that my outward appearance is all that matters.

In a world of Kim Kardashians and Kylie Jenners, it turns out that makeup makes a pretty face, but it doesn't guarantee a pretty heart. We can conceal our pesky acne and paint our lips and eyes to accentuate them, but at the end of the day, we were created in God's image, and He sees us as we are.

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight." -1 Peter 3:3-4

Sometimes, I don't always like the body I have, but I'm working hard to keep it healthy, in addition to my mind and spirit. I realize that no matter what body I have, God wants me to use it to fulfill His plan and purpose for me.

As a dancer, I have to deal with my body every day, and I've come to discover that my body isn't necessarily the "correct" type for dance. I'm not as lean or tall as I'd like to be, but I make it work as best as I can. The good news is that even without a dancer's ideal body, I can create art, and that means the world to me.

I was given the body I have to go and serve the world and be a faithful disciple of Jesus in whatever way I can. Sometimes it is through expressive movement in dance, sometimes it is through the written word, sometimes it is through speaking from my heart with aim to inspire others

I pray that the Lord make my body a conduit of His message so that I may go out into the world to spread His light and love wherever I may wander.