does this blog make me look fat?

How about these jeans?

Come on, be honest. You can tell I've put on a few pounds, can't you?

You, on the other hand, look fabulous. What's your secret? Weight Watchers, South Beach, Medical Weight Loss? Three-a-day sessions with a personal trainer? I hate you.

And Sue, I really hate her. She is looking so thin. Too thin, really. Do you think she's had surgery?

And speaking of surgery, do you think I should have a tummy tuck? Does the Catholic Church allow tummy tucks? If I have one I might die, so I should go to confession first.

Confession. I have a lot of confessions to make. I am not too keen with my body right now. I mean, who would be? What happened to the body I used to live in? Is it supposed to look like this? Is that supposed to hang like that? Are these supposed to droop that low?

But wait a minute. I should be "holier" than that. I know that my body is a gift from God, that I was created in His image. I should not let the current culture dictate what my appearance should be. My stretch marks are like battle scars won while giving the gift of life to seven beautiful children. My breasts are soft because they were used for their God-intended purpose -- the nurturing of my babies. The tiny wrinkles around my eyes and the not-so-tiny lines of my brow give testament to a life of joy and sadness, but a life well-lived. The extra pounds I carry make me the cuddly mommy that my children love. My husband, God bless him, loves me just as I am.

I should exercise and eat well because I am a good steward of this great gift our Loving God has given me. I have an obligation to care for myself and to set a good example for my children. Living a healthy lifestyle is my duty as a Christian. My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. I should seek to be a worthy vessel.

But I shouldn't worry too much how I look in those jeans.

If you've ever had these thoughts, my friend, you are in the right place. How do we balance our need to be fit in figure with our desire to be pleasing to the Lord? Is it wrong to be concerned with our physical appearance, or is our laziness in caring for ourselves an indication of sloth and gluttony?

I'm not here because I have all the answers. I'm here because I have lots of questions, and I have the feeling I'm not alone.

My heart has been full with these issues lately. I've dealt with my body image for as long as I can remember. Just the other day, pondering whether or not I should start this blog, I came across this article from one of my favorites, Kate Wicker. Check it out here.

After reading it I knew there was lots to talk about. Want to weigh in? (Pun intended, of course.) I hope you will.