I’ve always struggled with my weight. Always. I don’t really ever remember a time where it wasn’t a constant struggle. As a young girl, I would look at those girls with the picture-perfect bodies, and envy what they had. If only I could be thin, everything would be easier, I’d dream.
When I met my husband, and he loved me for me… I swooned! Someone actually thinks I’m beautiful!
After 6 years of marriage, I think I’ve finally learned one thing. My husband doesn’t need a skinny wife! He needs a wife with a happy, God-fearing , heart.
I was chatting with a sweet friend the other day, and when she said those words… those words that will be forever tattooed upon my heart-strings… those words that, I believe, will be life-changing for me… those words, that will actually be pivotal in my weight-loss ventures…
She said, “my husband said he’d rather have my heart be happy, than me have the picture-perfect body.”
A happy heart! That’s totally it. When my thoughts turn towards the scale, how this and that food will affect the little number going up or down, it doesn’t make me happy. It makes me stressed. It makes me miserable.
It makes me focus all my attention on self, rather than Christ living out in me.
Do I have a goal-weight in mind? Oh yes, I do. Do I think it is important to look our very best, (HOT EVEN), for our husbands? Oh yes, I do.
But not at the cost of being happy and content! Did you know, that when we are a miserable, rotten mess, we are so so ugly?!
That’s not the woman that my husband fell in love with! I want to be beautiful on the inside… and have it shine forth to my exterior.
All the fad-diets and skinny jeans will not make me beautiful if my heart isn’t content in who I am in Christ Jesus.
(Feel free to share this article by posting it on facebook. If you want to stay up to date with Ordinary Inspirations, visit me here)
Thanks for visiting!
This is so true!! I do try to look my best and have struggled on and off with the weight thing but it’s what’s on the inside that matters!!
Love and Blessings to you
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for this. It couldn’t have come on a better day.
You preach it girl! And boy was that an eye-catching title. But, so true. I too have, am, and always struggle. Enjoyed reading, very meaningful.
Karen
Thanks for this.
I totally agree, when I was younger – before kids I was so self conscious of how my shape differed from perfection and actually all my husband wanted and needed was a wife who loved him, desired him and felt comfortable in her own skin.
At least now, after 3 kids I can see this.
I HAVE that copy of Fitness. I should probably get around to reading it. 🙂 Great post.
I HAVE that copy of Fitness. I should probably get around to reading it.
Great post!
So true. Timely post as I have gained back most of the weight I lost last year. I am trying not to focus on it, but most of my fall clothes are not going to fit. I still need to have a happy heart.
Thank you a hundred times over…this post really ministered to me today.
:)Erin
well I WAS one of those thin girls, super petite, but with an hourglass figure. Turns out that hourglass figures look quite different at 39 than at 17. LOL
I am so thankful for husbands that love us for WHO we are, not what we look like…although I do wish he had a really thin wife still. (Sigh)
Amen!!!
Amen!!!
How true this is! My husband has told me time and time again, that he doesn’t care if I lose weight or not, he just wants me happy! If I have to lose weight to be happy, than that’s what I need to do, but I have to find a way to do it with a happy heart, or learn to be happy with the way I am!
I’ve read in several places that men find women who smile a lot, atractive…regardless of their physical appearance! A smile, a refreshed spirit and self appreciation is very wanted by my husband! He also said that a lot of physical attraction is in the mind. He said if I BELIEVE that I’m hot, I’ll come across that way, and he’ll respond to that!
How I want to start believing his words, and not that scale!
Yes! And having a joyful heart/attitude makes us look so much more beautiful to others (especially our husbands!) Its amazing how someone pretty can look so ugly when they have a nasty attitude doesnt it? I have definitely had my ugly days and need to work on my attitude 🙂
Amen SISTA~!
Amen! Thank you for this powerful, Truth~filled reminder!
This is a beautiful post! I love how your sensative about the subject, but still speak in truth..that it is important to be healthy, but not dwell on it, obsess on it.
Thank you so much for this post! I needed to hear it. I’ve struggled with my weight for a long time and have issues with it.
(((Hugs)))
This post is so on point… so many of us look at our packaging and that is not all that we are… I always figure if I read enuf of those exercise magazines I will just magically wake up looking like the cover model.:o)
It is so hard of finding the balance between having a happy heart and not stressing about your weight, yet still being healthy. Healthy to be around for the long haul with your husband and healthy enough to run around and play with your children.
This is where I am struggling.
What a wonderful post Traci Michelle! Ahh…yes, you nailed it! We cannot be beautiful to our husbands if we are miserable and stressed! We will be beautiful if we are serving the LORD with a joyful heart!
I hopped over to this post from your current post in which you link here….I’m glad I did! 🙂
Blessings to you!
In Him,
Camille