Cellulite and Self-Talk
A new friend of mine, Debe, sent my Push Me Higher story to her sister, Melody and this is the feedback she got. I loved the sister’s honesty and related to her response because I have felt the same way at times. That’s why I had to address this…
Melody’s Feedback:
Beautifully written. Very touching. Deeply insightful. What I didn't say is WELL, if it isn't Linda who not only is a conference speaker with great biblical knowledge, but she can write as perfectly as she speaks and thus is published and her children are not only perfectly educated but perfectly raised and leading perfectly admirable lives thus validating the fact that they had a perfect mother. I can find absolutely nothing to sneer at and I am therefore highly incensed. It is good that I didn't say any of that, huh?
I hear the tongue in cheek in Melody’s voice, but I so had to respond to this because of all the times I resonated with her feelings when I heard some lady’s story or saw her share at a women’s event. I have to set the record straight by saying that I am irritatingly imperfect in every one of the areas mentioned above.
What this lady doesn’t know is all the times I screamed at my poor kids until my neck veins bulged, and my innocent children would scurry off to hide in their bedrooms waiting for the Mommy Dragon to spew fire again. Or all the times I stressed out about work and failed to be present in my presence with them. She doesn’t know all the tearful apologies I had to make to my kids or all of the incessant insecurity I felt practically the entire time I spent raising them worrying about the job I was doing.
Now I fight that same insecurity daily with regards to my writing. Not all of us can craft a sentence like Max Lucado and since Beth Moore has cornered the Bible Study market and Joyce Meyer has a huge audience, who’s going to care what I have to say??? But I keep going because God won’t let me quit!
Every one of us has cellulite and lousy self-talk…no matter what we see on the screen, read in tabloids or hear from others. I had to use cellulite as an example because of all the perfect pictures we look at, only to walk away with self-loathing because we don’t measure up. Super models even feel this way, just ask Cindy Crawford.
So Darlin’, if you’re going to feel second-rate, please don’t waste any energy feeling second rate to me because I have as much cellulite and stinkin’ thinkin’ as you do! And I know we aren’t alone. Most of the mothers reading this would agree. So let’s pat ourselves on the back for doing the best we can and realize we’re fortunate that God loves us warts and all…or should I say cellulite and all!