Letter to my 16-year-old self

Dear Erin,

            The definition of beauty doesn’t include the word skinny.  I know that’s not what the world says.  It’s not what the media says and it’s not what guys at school say, but it’s what the Bible says. It’s what God says.

            The Bible defines beauty as a gentle and quiet spirit.  First and foremost you are beautiful on the inside.  The Bible also says that you are beautiful because God formed every part of you in His image.  Yes, every part of you – even the hair you think is too frizzy, the skin you think is too pale, and the thighs you think are too big.  He made it and He loves it exactly the way it is.

            I know that right now you’re hurting and struggling and barely hanging on by a thread.  I know that the idea of showing people who you really are absolutely terrifies you, but it doesn’t have to be this way.  You don’t have to hide and you don’t have to pretend everything is okay when it’s not.  God gave you friends, family, and an amazing church so that you don’t have to do it alone.  Don’t be afraid to be real and vulnerable with the people who care about you.

            And don’t worry quite so much about numbers.  The number on the scale, the number on the tag of your jeans – they don’t matter.  If you insist on thinking about numbers, think about the number of people who love you and care deeply about you.  I know you don’t think that’s a very big number, but it is.

            And most importantly, seek God.  Seek God with every ounce of strength you have.  Only in Him will you be able to find peace in the midst of the storm.