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 had the opportunity to talk with a client recently about her sense of humor. As we talked, it became evident that this gift arose out of the pain of a somewhat negative self-image. It was her way to divert others away from getting to know the real person inside who was insecure and hurting. Some of this lowered esteem came from body-image issues from when she was a girl.
I see this often from both men and women. Our Western culture heavily influences women to be very body conscious, and that emphasis can transcend into a negative overall image problem. Indeed, body image comes into play with men as well. I have had many male clients who, while of essentially normal size, see themselves as that husky pre-teen whom others taunted as “fatty” or some such adolescent moniker.
It is funny how the image of our body becomes the definition of how we perceive ourselves. Somewhere in our head, we are still that husky adolescent who was wounded by the words or actions of others. Or maybe, we were the ones ourselves who were the ones giving negative feedback to ourselves.
The truth is we need to be able to see, to remind ourselves, that we are made in the Imago Dei – the image of God. Our soul and spirit are the things that last. Our bodies?
Well, we know what eventually happens to them.
Prayer: Lord, help us to remember that we are made in your image, Amen
Reflections of a Counselor 