Being 17 weeks along in my pregnancy, I'm at that horrible stage of "growth" where people are unsure if they should comment on my belly or not.  You know... the stage where you just look fat?  I always like it as soon as it's obvious and that first person comes up to me (a complete stranger is even better) and asks if I'm pregnant.  What a glorious day that is!  Finally, I don't look fat anymore!  I'm "officially" pregnant to the world!

Whether pregnant or not, I need to remember that even when I don't feel like I look sexy, I can still be sexy to my husband.  It's a choice that I must make, and should make for my husband and our marriage.  It saddens me to hear so many women talk about their bodies in such negative ways.  It's so hurtful to marriages.  Men are such visual beings (let's face it... God made them that way, so don't hate how they are for you're judging God's design...).  Instead, we should embrace our husband and let him love us... yes, you heard me... let him love you! 

When we are women of God seeking His will in our marriages and trying to fulfill our roles as wives, He blesses us with husbands who see past our stretch marks or vercose veins... they won't care about this roll or that wrinkle...  They see us for the women of God, wives, and mothers that we're trying to be and they will love us!

Now, I do understand that some women are in marriages that have been or are still verbally abusive, or have even had adultry enter their sacred home, leaving scars.  Maybe some have been told they're fat or ugly... maybe the ugliness goes clear to the bone...  Draw near to the heart of God... become what He wants for you, and you will begin to see the beautiful woman the Lord sees when He looks at you.  He has a plan for you, and as long as you are a wife, His desires for your marriage are not to withhold yourself, physically or emotionally, from your husband (unless agreed upon by both of you).  Love your God with all your heart, but then... love your husband... before your children or anyone, or anything else... that is His plan.  Put your heart there, regardless of what your marriage is like now, or has been in the past, and leave the rest up to the Lord.

My husband loves to see me enjoying him as much as he enjoys me... whether it be looking into his eyes, or in a passionate embrace. Whether I'm wearing "something special" or "letting it all hang out"... he simply loves to have me love him... and that has nothing to do with what I look like on the outside, but what is revealed from within.

The next time you're staring at yourself in disgust in the mirror (why do we look anyway?) look again, but as the Lord sees you.  If you're still disgusted, then you have some work to do, but atleast you'll be working on something with some importance instead of spending time in the gym!

In Him,
Amy