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 . . . .