A year ago, I was on vacation with my grandparents (my mom’s parents). I was swimming in the pool with Henry and I noticed in the distance my grandparents staring at me. They were sitting in adirondack chairs and I thought they were watching my son swim. But no… they were looking at me–admiringly.

All of a sudden, my grandma was at the edge of the pool with her phone… she asked me to turn to the side and look toward the golf course because she wanted to take my picture.

I regret what came out of my mouth after that. I said, “Oh Gma! I look terrible. I have no makeup on.” Her response got me. “Why would you say that? You look beautiful! Grandpa and I were just talking about how you look just like your mama!”

I obliged mt grandparents–of course–and I tried not to cry as they took the photo. My sweet grandma said something that would change the way I speak about myself forever. She was looking at me- a spitting image of her daughter that she lost 9 years prior–and when she wanted a photo of that treasured person, my first instinct was to say I didn’t have makeup on! ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME? How dare I say anything negative about myself… They were looking at the most beautiful person in their eyes. They were reminiscing of their first born child and I had the audacity to say something dumb like I don’t have makeup on!

I caught a glimpse of what God must think about us every single time we say something negative about how we look.

“So God created mankind in his own image,  in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” -Genesis 1:27

I don’t care what you look like. There is a God in Heaven staring from the edge of Heaven admiring you–with or without your makeup. He is admiring you, in the middle of your sin and imperfection. He loves you more than you could ever imagine.

My prayer is that you and I can love ourselves the way God loves us. Yes! Take care of our bodies. Yes! put makeup on. We can enhance our beauty. But remember, you are beautiful (and handsome) before you do a dang thing. Mic dropped. Hil out.