You Are Beautiful, Day 25

I’ve always had a hard time thinking of myself as “beautiful”. Sure, my fiance says I am, my mother says I am, even random pins on Pinterest say I am.. but I still could not believe it (and I still struggle sometimes believing it).

I had always struggled with my weight. It likes to yo-yo, so at times I could gain 40 lbs and then lose 20 in a few months. It is absolutely frustrating looking at pictures of me from high school where I was 130 lbs and I thought I was fat (I realize everyone has different body types and such, but that was my opinion of myself in high school). Gaining 40+ lbs. in college took a huge toll on my self-esteem and body image. I used to think I wasn’t beautiful because I wore baggy clothes and sweatpants because I was ashamed at how much I gained. I wouldn’t even believe my fiance when he told me that he thought I looked beautiful that day.

But you know what, I was still beautiful. Even at my highest weight, I was still beautiful. I am still beautiful. God made me the way I am because it was His plan. Sure, I’ve taken measures to get back to a healthy weight, but there was no reason for me to think of anything less of myself than beautiful.

And you know what, YOU are beautiful. God created you, how awesome is that? It doesn’t matter how much you weigh or what you wear or what you look like, God made you the way you are because it is HIS plan. And I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t want to question the big guy upstairs :). I know sometimes it’s hard to believe it (and like I said, I continue to struggle with it), but I then remember that I am a child of God and I am beautiful in my own unique way, and the same goes for you!

Emily is engaged to the love of her life and blogs over at Day in the Life about her conversion to Catholicism, wedding planning, and weight loss (all at the same time!)