Friday Fun-day

I hope everyone is excited about the weekend.  Weekends aren't the same, exactly, to me since I'm not working.  My husband says that every day is Saturday to me.  It's not like I lay around on the couch watching TV.  In fact, I rarely even turn it on because I do have a schedule and lists with things to check off every day.
I wanted to share with you something that I shared last night at Zumba.  I found it to be surprisingly encouraging to me, even as I gasped for air while trying to offer these thoughts after class last night.  Psalm 139:14 is a verse that many people can rattle off, as it is often something that we teach to children.  "I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well."  We teach it to children to help them understand how important they are, and how God created them, and yada yada yada.  However, we tend to forget that meaning and importance of this verse as we age. 
I don't know about you, but I can definitely find the "fearfully" in myself.  When I wake up in the morning, my eyes are kind of puffy.  I'm nearing my 27th birthday this month, and I'm pretty sure I have a teensy crows foot on my left eye.  If I'm going to have wrinkles I'd at least like them to by symmetrical!  It's so easy for us as women to point out our flaws.  We are constantly trying to lose weight [whether we need to or not], some women think their butts are too small [do you know anyone like that?], our teeth aren't white enough, our skin tone isn't even, and of course the ever-popular, "My breasts are too small".  I am thankful that God created scientists who have given us the ability to have great makeup, hair products [all natural, of course], and clothing.  When we get older we'll have wrinkles and new hips or new knees and saggy breasts.  I will probably color my hair when it gets gray, I'll definitely never leave the house without some form of makeup, and I'll continue to work out as long as my body is able.  One thing I'll never do, though, is any kind of plastic surgery.  That is just not for me.  I'm not against it, I'm just not going to undergo any kind of optional surgery.  When I lie down at night, my boobs will be right underneath my arms, where they should be.  That's just the way it is.
So what about the whole "wonderfully made" part?  Do you think you're wonderful?  Well, like it or not, you are!  Do you know it?  OWN IT!  Ephesians 2:10 says that we are God's workmanship [read: masterpiece].  Can you believe you're a masterpiece?  You're like a Picasso only all your parts are in the right place.  And you know what else?  Your friends are masterpieces, too!  Women you meet on the street are wonderful creations from God.  Wouldn't it be nice if we accepted this about ourselves and others, and made it our mission to make sure other women embraced it? 
It's often very easy to compliment our friends and acquaintances.  When we like someone's hair, shoes, ear rings, cooking, decorating, singing, etc, etc, we will go out of our way to tell them so.   We are actually praising God when we compliment others.  It's His handiwork, after all!  When someone compliments us, however, we are often quick to explain it away or change the subject.  We squirm and don't believe it.  When we do this, we're denying our Father his worship.  Ouch.  I don't know about you, but I do that all the time.  I struggle with low self-esteem, always have.  When someone compliments me, I can't ever just say thank you.  I'm learning, though, and I hope you will too. 

Even with extra pounds and saggy body parts, we are still quite remarkable because You made us.  Help us to spend more time praising You for Your handiwork and less time complaining.  And may I learn to accept compliments as gifts knowing that my attributes and talents come from You.