Beautiful

So I was doing really well by posting every day. And then I got kindasorta busy this past weekend. Haha not really... don't have an excuse since I had time to do other stuff. But today's events were kind of interesting and I thought I'd post about them.

I was talking to classmate who has become quite a good friend to me this year. I originally met her at CCF's newcomer's reception, then learned that we were in the same program, and coincidentally (but not really) we had two classes together. We have gotten to know each other as classmates but also as friends, and sisters in Christ. Today, we were having dinner together after our only class together this term, and she told me that she was considering transferring to another school for a completely different program. I was really surprised, because she's told me that she's settled here nicely and that she loves Waterloo. I hope that I encouraged her and helped her a little bit. I shared about how I feel that God has called me to be at Waterloo, and that he has shown me and taught me a lot through the whole applying-accepting-transitioning process of university. Selfishly speaking, I really don't want to see her leave Waterloo because I would miss her a lot. But I pray that God will show her exactly what he wants and not what she wants, although it might be uncomfortable for her.

In sociology class, the topic of lecture was sex and gender. During the last bit of class, we watched part of a documentary about advertising and the effects on women. Obviously, the media, and especially advertising, makes a huge impact on how both men and women view females and their identities. I cannot believe that media has come to a point where women are portrayed so overtly as merely objects, and sex objects too. I was appalled by many of the images and commercials that we watched. Why doesn't anyone love their bodies anymore? I just don't get it. Sure, sometimes I don't like my body either. But not to the point where I hate myself. Ahhhhh, it pains me to see that girls are starving themselves because we are constantly bombarded by messages, subliminal or not, to change the way we look, the way we were created, just because we are "supposed to" be something we can't attain.

My challenge to all of you (girls and guys!) is to love who you are, and who God made you to be. Glorify him by loving and taking care of yourself, because your body is the temple of God. Remember that that also means you should eat, sleep, and live healthily! So the next time (I'm guilty of this, too) you say something detrimental like, "I need to lose my freshman 15" or "I hate my -insert body part or feature-", remember that God has made you beautiful, in his own image! The second part of this challenge is to remember that God made everyone, not just you, beautiful and in his image, so judging others based on appearance or putting down somebody because of their body is damaging. So, if your friend asks you if they look okay, be honest. Tell them they are beautiful because God made them beautiful. :) (cue Just The Way You Are...)