For all the women who are having struggles
I found this today, and i thought it was one of the most beautiful and encouraging things I've ever read. I did not write this and these are not my pictures. But I feel it's important for me to pass this onto the woman who sometimes contemplate themselves and there changing Bodies.
"The Beauty of Love
In this world we are constantly reminded of what we are not. We set unobtainable goals and hold extreme standards for ourselves. We see things in magazines and online that tell us that if we don’t look like this or that, we aren’t beautiful. Why do we as women do this to ourselves? Why do we compare ourselves to a perfectly airbrushed model?
My perception of beauty has drastically changed over the past 8 months. My body is ever changing, growing, and stretching.
I’m here to tell you that this miracle occurring
inside of me is what beauty is all about.
The hormonal changes taking place are a perfect creation from God, and I cherish every change. Knowing that there are women out there who might give everything (and have) to experience this beautiful, yet grueling change, I count it all as a blessing.
You see, as a pregnant woman, I’m temptedto compare myself to the maternity portraits I see online. I’m tempted to ask why I can’t look that way. I’m tempted to feel insecure (and often do) about myself. I feel “fat,” I feel ugly, and sometimes I feel stupid. When these temptations come, I must remain confident in the beauty the Lord has placed upon me. What is happening to my body is a beautiful thing. I’m creating life as a result of true love. What is causing these changes is an absolute miracle.
I’m here to tell you that beauty doesn’t lie within the airbrushed perfect models. Beauty lies within true life. Real life. Today I’m going to share a few pictures with you that have not been edited or airbrushed.
You may look at this photos and cringe. You may say “I’m never having kids” – I did that once. You may experience envy. What I hope you experience is praise. Praise to the good Lord above for this true miracle.
When I saw the first signs of a stretch mark, I was devastated. I stared and stared at it. I put lotion on it religiously (like that would help make it go away). That little mark multiplied. I now have several stretch marks on my stomach that I am proud of.
These marks indicate the journey I have been on over the past 8 months. The physical journey of pain, exhaustion, nausea, and all the complications I’ve had. They indicate the emotional journey that started with mourning and developed into overwhelming joy. My stretch marks indicate the spiritual journey from wife to mother.
I found this quote, and I couldn't have said it better myself:
"A mark for every breath you took, every blink, every sleepy yawn. One for every time you sucked your thumb, waved hello, closed your eyes and slept in the most perfect darkness. One for every time you had the hiccups. One for every dream you dreamed within me. It isn't very pretty anymore. Some may even think it ugly. That's OK. It was your home. It's where I first grew to love you, where I lay my hand as I dreamed about who you were and who you would be. It held you until my arms could, and for that, I will always find something beautiful in it."
The Lord has trusted my husband and me to care for this sweet soul. For that I am ever grateful for my beauty marks. This tiger has earned her stripes, and I still have one more month of stripes to earn. These stripes will one day remind me of time when I could hold her close, and never let her go. A time when I was her only source of nourishment and life. These stripes will forever be a reminder of a time when it was just me and her"
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