Less Than Perfect

How many times have I had this conversation with a young college woman who is struggling with body image? This time it was Panama City Beach, and the conversation took place with one of the girl’s who was attending the conference.

“I really struggle with body image,” she said. And as the conversation continued, she shared that she is “being bombarded with my thoughts.” “It’s so hard to not compare to the other girls especially the ones on the beach,” she confessed. I felt her ache.

On my way home from PCB, I was listening to the radio while the boys were watching countless DVD’s (thank you for DVD players!). A song by Pink came on titled, “Less Than Perfect.” When I listened to the song, I thought of the sweet college student who was struggling and the many who have felt this way.

Pretty, pretty please
Don’t you ever, ever feel
Like you’re less than
less than perfect
Pretty, pretty please
If you ever, ever feel
Like you’re nothing
You are perfect to me

You’re so mean
When you talk
About yourself
You are wrong
Change the voices
In your head
Make them like you
Instead

Pretty, pretty please
Don’t you ever, ever feel
Like you’re less than
less than perfect
Pretty, pretty please
If you ever, ever feel
Like you’re nothing
You are perfect to me

Why do we do that?
Why do I do that?
Why do I do that?

I think Pink does a great job of describing what many women have felt at one point in their lives. Less than perfect. We can have this phantom image of what we should look like and be like.

Pink says that we are so mean when we talk to ourselves. We can think some pretty wrong thoughts about ourselves. Pink’s answer: Change the voices in your head, Make them like you instead.

In one way, I agree with her. The voices need to be changed. However, the answer is not a self help strategy for thinking good thoughts about ourselves. The answer lies in replacing those wrong thoughts with what God says about us. He says, “You are fearfully and wonderfully made; You are deeply loved.”

Jesus himself is singing to us, “No, you are not perfect, but I AM, and I love you.” Our significance and worth are found in Him and Him alone! NOT in being the prettiest, smartest and best at everything.

For all those who feel less than perfect . . . .

Florida Fun

The boys and I had the opportunity to spend a week in Panama City, Florida at a CRU conference with 1000 college students from all over the US. Such a fun week! I miss it already. I love getting to watch the Lord capture the hearts of college students. It's a beautiful thing! (I'll post more about the week later)

I have family that live in the area and we got to spend one afternoon with them at their house in Paradise! (jet ski's, hot tub, beautiful gardens) Here are a few pictures from our trip.

Shamrock shakes are a must for any road trip in March!

Alex and Jensen with their cousin, Steffen

Jet ski fun!

The boys playing in the ocean with the Butler students!

The lonely flower

The boys and I were painting recently. I’m not really a painter, but my oldest, Alex, is, and he painted a beautiful picture of some flowers. There were two red tulips and one purplish/black flower. I asked him what the name of the painting was and his response was, “The lonely flower.” I was a bit puzzled because there were three flowers on the painting.

He proceeded to explain that it was the purple flower that was lonely. I said, “But there are two other flowers right beside it, why would it be lonely?”

He said that the red flowers were a father and his son and the purple flower was a father without a son. That’s why he was lonely. “Don’t you see his head drooping, mom?”

Uh, no I don’t, but one must never argue with the artist.

I can identify with the lonely flower. Longings unfulfilled. There have been lots of lonely days since Erik’s death. Some days it feels palpable.

It’s easy to run to other things to fill the loneliness. For me, TV and Facebook are joy stealers. Not that they are inherently bad, but often it’s my default when I am lonely. Others run to alcohol, drugs, sex.

I read Psalm 16 to Erik the day that he died. In these verses, the Psalmist practically screams of God’s presence and ability to satisfy our longing hearts. “He is at my right hand;” “My heart is glad;” “For you will not abandon me;” “You will make known to me the path of life;” “In Your presence there is fullness of joy;” “In Your right hand there are pleasure forever more.”

We will experience this perfect satisfaction in Christ only in heaven, which is why I read it to Erik, but this is also a reminder for life here on earth. God is screaming to the lonely heart. I AM WITH YOU! I WILL BE WHAT YOU NEED! I CAN SATISY!

And here lies the struggle . . . am I really going to believe God is enough today?