Fearfully and wonderfully made

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
(Psalm 139:13-14)

14 

 Being a single lady in Korea was not easy. Living in a culture so obsessed with appearances, you could not help but get affected by it. People were constantly reminding me that I needed to look a certain way if I wanted to get 'Mr. Right'. All of my girlfriends were on diets, all the time. I spent thousands of dollars trying to get the 'perfect skin'. Money spent on hair salons, make up, clothes, dermatologists, gym membership was all regarded as money well spent. I'm not saying all these things are bad, but I was really doing these things to please others rather than for my own well being. I was doing it out of fear of rejection, becoming a spinster, and being laughed at. I'm sure you would agree that living with a paranoia that people are watching you and judging your appearance all the time isn't healthy.

 When I came to Australia, I felt so much freedom. I didn't have to wear the latest fashion that was featured in a popular Korean drama. There was nothing wrong with tying your hair up into a ponytail instead of straightening it every morning. I could even leave the house without make up sometimes. I wore clothes that fit me, instead of trying to fit my body into my clothes. It was like a breath of fresh air.

 Now that I know I am having a girl (90% chance, anyway), I am looking back at how it was like growing up as a girl and thinking about how I could make things different for my daughter. I want her to know that she was made perfect by God, the way she is. She is loved the way she is by God and people that matter to her. She doesn't have to try to look a certain way for other people. This podcast from the Desiring God website reminded me of how I should view my body as a Christian and I hope I can teach my children the same, instead of being swept away by what our culture tells us about our body image.