(Vintage Post} Beauty

I was looking through my old blog (gogreeno) that we started when we adopted Milo... haha It starts off with a video of us bringing home our pup! 

My how life has changed in the past 2 1/2 years :) 

Anyway, for awhile I tried balancing both, but it turns out one blog is about more than I can handle. 

So gogreeno sits untouched, but I still visit frequently. 

It's a little treasure chest of memories for me, and I've realized there are some posts that I still want to share with you all. 

A few gems that I came up with in a moment of inspiration that I believe could be a blessing to someone.
Today I wanted to participate in Amanda's new Desire to Inspire link up, so I chose a post that is near and dear to my heart.
I pray that at least one woman will read this today and be inspired to love their body just a little better, not only for her own sake, but for her children's!

So here you are,  a vintage piece from the gogreeno vault, complete with tiny Lily pictures.  

Enjoy & be blessed. I'm praying that anyone/everyone who reads this today will be reminded of their eternal beauty. 

Because, girl, you are gorgeous!!

The other day I was reading a daily devotion from Reflections for Ragamuffins by Brennan Manning. {By the way, have you ever read Ragamuffin Gospel? I think you should. Brennan Manning is so in LOVE with our Jesus and it's absolutely beautiful the way he writes about grace.} Anyway, I read this:

The narcissistic obsession with weight watching in North America

is a formidable ploy of the impostor. Despite the valid and

important health factor, the amount of time and energy devoted to

acquiring and maintaining a slender figure is staggering. No snack is

unforeseen, no nibble spontaneous, no calorie uncharted, no

strawberry left uncounted... To paraphrase Cardinal Wolsey, "Would

that I had served my God the way I have watched my waistline!"

All of a sudden it hit me. It is going to be hard raising a woman of God in this society of ours! My sweet daughter will be bombarded with image after image of an unattainable, airbrushed, worldly "beauty". How am I going to help her desire to be "clothed with strength and dignity (prov 31:25)" instead of expensive designer labels? How will I teach her to truly believe that she is "fearfully and wonderfully made (psalm 139:14)"?

I prayed about it a lot. And do you know what? It's my responsibility to SHOW her! Do I desire God more than the opinions of others? Do I genuinely believe that God creates beauty and that He created me exactly the way I am. On purpose. To be honest, not always. But I'm definitely working on it.

I've made a rule not to ever speak negatively about myself in front of my daughter. No weight comments, or unaccepted compliments. Don't get me wrong, I think it's very important to teach her to eat healthy and be active, but she needs to grow up seeing that I believe this body is wonderful. Without this body I wouldn't even have my precious Lily Belle, so I forgive it for not being a perfectly toned size 2. I pray that she will grow up so focused on Jesus and loving others that she doesn't even notice all of the unrealistic images telling her what she "should" look like.

And I pray that you will consider making yourself a similar rule. Thank God today for beautiful body he has given you. Show your kids what it looks like to pursue Jesus instead of an unattainable body image.

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who loves the Lord is to be praised."

Proverbs 31:30