Today, I want to briefly discuss with you the topic of body image and shaming. The reason for this topic today is due to a conversation that took place with a relative of mine a few days ago. Someone that they had deep feelings for in the past made contact with them, and one of the things that they asked, was, are you still fat? How dare you ask that question, was my thought.

So I decided to dedicate this episode to anyone who may feel like they are being judged by their weight, the color of their skin, their hair, their eyes, shape, or whatever. Let me share this with you, I myself as a youth in middle school was teased about the shape of my head, the kids called me pie face, and banana head. Of course, it hurt my feelings, a little, and yes, it caused me to have a complex about the way my head was shaped, I would try to cover by styling my hair differently to not bring attention to the shape of my head. One day I realized that kids were just picking at me because of meanness, and sometimes kids pick at you because they like you, and don't know how to approach you in order to be friends, so they follow the crowd, and tease you, just so they can feel part of a group.

Is this right NO!!! Definitely not. As I grew older, I realized that there are all shapes and sizes of people and not all people that are skinny like that they are skinny, not all fat people like the fact that they are fat, but they have health issues that cause them to retain fluid, and some have thyroid issues, and others have poor eating habits. Not all obese people over-eat, you have some that under eat and their bodies go into starvation mode, so it retains everything that is put in it. The body is like a machine, if you fuel it appropriately, it will run like it should, if you do not fuel it appropriately it will break down.

Do you try to compare yourself to others? Do you scrutinize yourself because of what others opinions are of you? Have you been teased about your weight, the shape of your body, your hair, your eyes, or your skin complexion? Has this made you feel shame, do you have low self-esteem, or feel bad about yourself? If so why?

The reason I asked why, is because noone's opinion of you should matter when it comes down to your body. Noone knows what health issues you may have that cause you to be over weight, under weight, or etc. It's noone's business. You have to have the self-confidence in yourself and be happy with what the Lord has given you.

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

I'm here to tell you that no matter what you look like, or you feel you should look like, or what someone else thinks you should look like, you need to be the best version of who you are, no matter what size you are. I have finally come to a place in my life that I don't care what noone thinks about me, I am just Tabatha. My size, my head shape, nor the color of my skin should matter when it comes down to having compassion for others or being a child of the most high God.

People have to stop passing judgement on others about superficial things, that does not have anything to do with kindness. So many people have gone other the knife to get what seems to them to be the perfect body. I'm not critizing anyone who chooses to do that, but there are so many of them that have lost their lives behind what someone else thinks about them.

I struggle myself with my weight, but at 53 years of age, what does it matter. The struggle I have is due to health issues and not because of feelings of insecurity. I am happily married, my husband and I joke about my rolls and his rolls, we know it took time to get on and it will take time to get off. I don't focus on the 20 year old body I use to have, that will never happen, I just focus on being healthy so that I can see my grandchildren grow, and be all that I can be as a servant for kingdom of the Lord.

I just want you all to know that you don't need to change because of what someone else has said about your physique, but if you choose to change let it be because you want to be healthy, not to gain someone's attentions or affections. If that all they are interested in, then how long do you believe that relationship will last. It's built on just the physical attraction.

Look at yourself in the mirror and love yourself. You have to love and appreciate who you are and the attributes that you bring to any relationship. Remember that the Lord made you in his image according to Genesis 1:27 it states So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

So the take away from this episode is be thankful for who you are and what you look like. The Lord does not make any mistakes in what he does.