Broke my heart

Tonight in tears Hope told me she doesn't like her face. This broke my heart. I asked her what she meant. She said when I look in the mirror I don't like what I see. My face. It's too much like an oval.

I realized I don't know how to help her feel better. I've thought these things too--not that my face is too oval, but a thousand other things. The thought ran through my mind: oh no, what have I said to be an example of this kind of attitude? I did not seem crazy to me that she might have heard me say something similar, and now she's starting to look for things she doesn't like about herself. Oh Lord, I feel terrible if I've caused her to ever think that she has reason to dislike her body.

My heart broke because I see no wrong thing when I look at Hope. I think she is gorgeous! But I didn't want to say you're beautiful! You're gorgeous! You're prettier than any other little girl! She needs to value herself, she needs to see her worth, she needs to see her own beauty on the inside and then hopefully she'll see what I see on the outside too.

I had her look at my face. She smiled and giggled a little and stopped crying. I asked if my face is oval. She said yes. I asked if she likes my face. She said yes. I told her she is just right and so beautiful in God's eyes and mine.

We got interrupted at that minute, and I'm not sure if she felt any better. I guess at this time I'm thankful she felt safe enough to tell me how she feels. I'm also encouraged to be careful about what I say about myself. I'm also encouraged to help her understand how God feels about her and help her find her beauty and worth and talent and value.

She's so beautiful! It is so sad to me that she dislikes what she sees in the mirror. I can find no ugly thing!

Is this how God feels about me?


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