Who's Image?

I remember playing with Barbie dolls as a child. I loved dressing them up with their beautiful outfits and accessories. I would decide what Barbie was going to wear that day. That was fun as a little girl.

The Lord reminded me of something I heard in the past regarding Barbie dolls giving unrealistic expectations to little girls. This was a pretty big conversation that was in the media. I remember hearing about how Barbie's body proportions were not realistic.  So, whose perspective were they discussing? Was it a child's perspective or an adult's perspective?

When I was a 6 year old girl, dressing up Barbie in cool outfits, I was not thinking about the size of her chest. I was a child. I was dressing up a doll. I was making her beautiful. I enjoyed imagining accessorizing and giving her pretty shoes that I could mix and match for different outfits. 

Again, whose perspective was being discussed in the media? I did not have the grown-up perspective that was the subject of the conversation.

We were created in the image of God. We were NOT created in the image of Barbie. So, why would we spend so much time and effort "discussing" the unrealistic self-image that Barbie supposedly gives to children?" As parents, it is a much better investment to teach our children how wonderfully they are made in God's image. Let's teach our children to embrace who they are in Christ. 

Instead of a comparison that leaves most people feeling unworthy, we should focus on our identity in Christ with the perspective that we were created with a purpose that will bring glory to God. Every single one of us has been created exactly how God wants us. We all bring something to the table. We need the purpose fulfilled in which every single one of us is called.

We would bring the most glory to God if we focused on the things that really matter. Loving and teaching our children wisdom versus following what the world decides they want to make an issue of this week.

This is what I say about you:

You are beautiful!

You are loved!

You are wonderfully made!

You are chosen!

You are the righteousness of God in Christ!

You are strong in the Lord by the power of His might. 

You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength.

You ARE a loved child of the Most High God!