Not Defined By The Physical
Here is another in the series to try and erase the negative images that we see every day. Yesterday, I shared the stories of the fab four. Then, Jenny shared her story. Tuesday, I shared with you a heartwarming post from one such woman. If you missed the other posts in this series you can check it out here, here and here.
Today I have the pleasure of letting a familiar face tell you her story of why she chose this picture of her as the favorite. You may remember Melissa as a contributor during my giving back series in December. You can find her blog on her site Resiliency Counseling & Consulting.
This photo was taken in May of 2017 when I graduated with my second Masters in Public Health. This is by far one of my favorite photos of me as an adult. I love this photo because of what I know it took to get me to this moment. Balancing a full-time job, three kids, and graduate school in my 40s was not an easy task, to say the least.
As women, we are often judged instantly by men and women alike based on our physical appearance rather than what gifts we have to offer the world. Even though I have been blessed with some wonderful genes as far as metabolism and a few “American ideal beauty” features, I have never wanted to be defined by physical attributes.
This photo represents what I want to be defined as… a strong, intelligent woman who seeks to use her gifts to reflect the love of Christ in the world. This photo also represents the message I want to send to my daughters and all the girls I serve locally and internationally. You are more than a dress size or a number on the scale… your body is simply the vessel that holds all the potential you have within you to achieve your best self.
