Beautiful, Beautiful

Don't know how it is You looked at me And saw the person that I could be
Awakening my heart, breaking through the dark Suddenly ablaze,,,,

Now there's a joy inside I can't contain But even perfect days can end in rain
And though it's pouring down, I see You through the clouds Shining on my face

Like sunlight burning at midnight Making my life something so beautiful, beautiful
Mercy reaching to save me, all that I need You are so beautiful, beautiful!

I have come undone But I have just begun Changing by Your grace.             
                                                                                   -- Francesca Battistelli

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Self esteem is the essence of living with positivity and responding to life's difficulties in a realistic way. Low self-esteem is brought about by negative experiences which commonly stemmed from our childhood. It is caused by factors depending on the background and status of the person, his surroundings, age, association with the outside world, etc.

Study shows 85% of people have low self esteem. This fact greatly contributes to what is happening to our world now for a person who suffers from it may: be consumed by fear of failure, fail more often than not, tend to procrastinate, feel unfulfilled, frustrated, angry, unloved, unlovable, nervous or shy; be indecisive, and Suffer from many other uncomfortable feelings that prevent us from our realizing full potential

It can lead to depression which is very rampant in our society. It is all around us. In our loved ones, friends and relatives.

Sad to say, though, our very own loved ones highly contributed to how we view our own worth because we value most how they see or regard us. I have to admit that I, as a parent, am guilty. For in the course of our anger, we say things that can be damaging to a child. The most commonly used term we utter when our kids did something wrong or just were in our way in our stressful moments is "stupid".

In our anger, we say things we really don't mean. That is why we must refrain from opening our mouth in those times. Matthew 15:11 says It's not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth. Let us not forget to ask forgiveness for all the hurting words that come out of our lips. In the Epistle of James, 1:19, he said: Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.

If we are really to reflect on the above Genesis verse, if we call somebody stupid or any other negative word, then God must be stupid or whatever it was we called them names  for we are supposedly His image.   

Here are the tips given by Dr. Joe Rubino who published a book on this:

1. Identify the source of your low self-esteem. What negative thoughts did you buy into or interpret about yourself? What new interpretations can you create?
2. Create 2 lists -- one of your negative qualities and another of your strengths. Figure out ways to work on the qualities you wish to manifest.
3. Identify lingering upsets from your past. Then take action to complete each one and move on with your life in a positive, productive manner.
4. Decide today to forgive yourself and those who have hurt you. Figure out how to resolve your strained relationships.
5. Decide to remove yourself from abusive relationships. Inform people in your life of your commitment to reinvent yourself and notify them that you will no longer permit others to treat you without respect.
6. Create a detailed, newly invented declaration about who you are that addresses every aspect of your self-image.

In addition to all those, it will be better to affirm our relationship with God. For only through Him can we find strength These are few of powerful scriptures that we need to claim as ours.

Phillipians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
Nehemiah 8:10 Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength
Psalm 28:7 The LORD [is] my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Isaiah 12:2-3 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.'

No matter what other people may say, only these matters: We are beautiful, beautiful in God's eyes and we have a beautiful, beautiful God.

--that in all things God may be glorified--