#Respect4Selfie

One of my friends joined a community that made an event and on Thursday this past week people were encouraged to post photos of themselves - natural, beautiful photos - meant to reveal and show our natural, God-given beauty.

This sparked a thought for me, and I was inspired, all for it.

In this world we are constantly plagued with images of women who are too skinny to be healthy, have flawless skin, perfect hair, etc. Women compare. We compare ourselves and our lives to everyone and everything. One of our greatest faults, I think, is how we compare - and our response to our comparison.

24 million people in the U.S. suffer from an eating disorder of some form.The sad fact is, that most people are so concerned with what others will think, they will do anything.

We are constantly disrespecting our bodies. We eat bad food, and then exercise for hours on end. We starve ourselves out of the fear of getting fat, or because we think we're fat and need to lose weight - when really a size 0 falls of our waist.

The fact of the matter is we no longer respect ourselves. We no longer see our self-worth, or our dignity. We are plagued by images and ideas of what we should look like and what we should wear. Now, I am not discrediting the eating disorders are in fact a mental illness and need to be treated as any other disease, but I am saying that we are seeing more and more of this disease because of what society and media is teaching us. Look at how the clothing has changed - clothes are much more revealing than ever before. How would this not make you insecure?

So why do I support #Respect4Selfie so much? Because of the word respect. Respect yourself. Respect your body, and recognize your God-given beauty, and worth.

You are beautiful. You are loved. You are perfect the way you are.

You are all beautiful my beloved, and there is no blemish within you. -Song of songs 4:7

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own. For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.
-1 Corinithians 6:19-20

Sisters, and brothers who may be reading this too - I implore you - respect your body. Eat a healthy balanced diet, exercise regularly, get enough sleep (at least 6-7 hours), and make time for yourself. Take time to rest, to be. Give your body what it needs - so you can most fully live out your life, and serve our God and our King in all that you do throughout all your life!

Here are a few natural photos -