Self-love

I recently saw a picture of myself and something strange happened.

I felt love for the woman I saw in the photo, like I would for a close friend.

In fact when I saw the photo I said, “gosh I love her”. And I don’t know that I have ever felt that way when thinking about myself.

This post is not intended to be some ego trip.

Its been a journey to get to a place where I could look in the mirror and be happy with who and what I see.

Self-love is something that gets beaten out of us from an early age.

You’re ugly.

You didn’t do well on that math test.

If only you were like so and so.

Your legs are too hairy, your eyes are squinty and you’re too tall.

We all have a negative narrative in our heads and for some of us its been on repeat for years.

I don’t know the time or place when the soundtrack stopped but it was probably subtle and gradual.

And somewhere along the way I started to sing a new song. Slowly at first - “You’ve got this. You can handle hard things. You are a good mom, wife and friend. You care. Not everything is your fault.”

Until the moment when I saw myself, separate from me, and felt real love for the person looking back. And I saw a glimpse of what our Creator sees in all of us. That He loves us so much and He delights in us. That we are His treasure, each one of us. And I remind myself that it is a gift to see with His eyes. So much beauty and love.

Life is a journey, we don’t always get to choose the path. But in moments like this I know its all going to be okay.

With gratitude.