Day three of
this eating disorder awareness week confronts a dangerous and ugly reality. The
central focus concerning much of our image coveting is the thin, sometimes even
emaciated, body. But why is this so?
“For what I am doing, I do not understand...”
Romans 7:15
Bombardment
of one image, to the exclusion of others, seems to be a cause. Without
diversity, it is easier to believe only one narrow, rigid aesthetic is
beautiful and acceptable. And this wrong assertion can compel some devastating
and harmful behaviors...
“According to the Health and Social Care Information Centre...
... In the past year alone, 42 children under the age of
10 were taken to hospital and admitted...
... The hash tag “thinspo” is being searched more widely
than ever, with impressionable youngsters drawing warped inspiration from
anorexia victims...
So far this year, there have been 3,292 hospital
admissions in the age groups 11-18 and over 18, compared to 2,142 in 2011 - a
rise of 1,150 cases in both sexes overall...”
www.mirror.co.uk/news
Again, we find destructive envy
driving life-threatening choices. All because the message is absorbed: only
thin is beautiful...
“For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every
evil thing are there.”
James 3:16
Yet, take a quick glance through
time. Sir Peter Paul Reubens celebrated a voluptuous female figure, one which
denoted prosperity.
Furthermore, Hollywood’s film sirens
included the likes of Betty Grable, Rita Hayworth and, of course, Marilyn
Monroe (whose curves represented a size 12 to 16).
And now
we’re in the era of curvy celebrities such as Kate Winslet, Jennifer Lopez and
Beyonce, none of whom are stick thin.
It is about
diversity; it is about variety.
Think about
the Most High’s Creation. How many different kinds of animals exist? How many
kinds of flowers?
Would you do
away with all daisies, simply because they are not roses? Of course you
wouldn’t.
So why
should we abolish or simply pretend other body types beyond a thin
representation need to be eradicated?
It’s harmful
and hurtful... not just to us, but to our Divine Creator, Who still insists...
“O
my dove…let me see your form…for your form is lovely.”
Song
of Solomon 2:14
For He has
not regretted His thoughtful choices in making each of us...
“For just as we have many members in one body
and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one
body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts
that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy,
according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who
teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives,
with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with
cheerfulness.”
Romans
12:4-8
Therefore,
we need to celebrate our unique differences, not bemoan them. And certainly not
destroy them. For this is the antithesis of our Divine Creator’s desire:
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the
Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11
Coveting and
manipulating one’s self into a narrow image is not peace, health, a future, a hope
or a life of blessing.
And it is
not who you are called to be. Challenge yourself to find out what that truly
means! And, to do that, you need to disregard coveting and competition. You are
the only you who exists.
Commit to
discovering all you are. “Being thin” is selling that you short!
Copyright © 2017 by Sheryle Cruse
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