This week, I want to encourage you to be authentic even though you may not be so perfect.

So God created human beings in his own image.  In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27 (New Living Translation)

Many women talk about what they do not like about themselves. They strive to become these perfect specimens by getting parts of their bodies tucked, sucked, and cut this way or that. Cosmetic surgery has become a billion dollar industry; and while I think it does have its place, it is not the answer to loving, or even liking yourself.

The answer to that is to embrace every part of you, accept it, deal with what may be wrong and move on with you life. Truth be told, no one can ever reach perfection through surgery or any other way for the matter, other than total obedience to God and reliance upon Him for the care of your life. Still perfection is a hard state to reach because we are simply humans.

I have learned to come to grips with my imperfections and accept that they are a part of who LaTara is. I am a perfect imperfection with dents, bumps, and bruises. I understand that there are no perfect people- though there are many who want to believe they are. And you know what? They are perfect…but now in the way they may think.

God made each of us with a unique pattern. No two people are alike – not even twins. There is always something different. Now to the human eye some of these differences may appear to be imperfect, quirky, and down right strange. In some cases they are really strange, but God always has a reason for giving His children the characteristics, traits, DNA makeup, or looks they may have.

We, in our human frailty, look at others and ourselves and judge what we think we see. However, I have learned from my own experience that assumption and perception can really get in the way of truly seeing who a person is. Sometimes we have to see beyond what appears and ask God to reveal what really is.

It took me a long time to see me for me and to accept who I was. That is a part of being authentic – accepting those areas of your life that are not perfect. Being authentic means that you know your feet may be flat or your nose a little wide but you love you anyway, knowing that what God has for you is for you.

It does not mean that you don’t work on those parts of you that are not so attractive (attitude, angry ways, envy, jealousy or other ungodly tendencies). However, you don’t have to beat yourself into a guilty spiritual stupor because you think that you are not what you need to be.

None of us are.

I now look in the mirror and see a woman who is a beautiful specimen created for definite destiny. In Africa with my wide hips and big forehead, I would be deemed a Queen. In God’s eye I am a perfect imperfection with so much to give the world.

So I smile wide, wear my size 10 shoes with pride, and sing as I walk down the street; and I do it all knowing that when God made me in His image, he did so with thought, love, and purpose.

Ask yourself this week…

• What are some of my perfect imperfections?
• Am I trying to be perfect or am I accepting who I am?
• Do believe I am more than enough?

Have an Authentically Abundant Week,

LaTara

Imperfect Authenticity is a post from: Christian Women Blogging - Women By Grace