by Dawn Smiling 

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.  And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.  Mathew 10:29-31 NIV

I am approaching week three at the nutritional class at Grace.  I want to share how exciting these classes have been.  Let me begin by sharing the turnout is amazing.  It is a wonderful feeling to see so many Grace family brothers and sisters who are seeking better health together.  The best part of class last week is I learned what body type I am.  We learned there are three specific body type categories that we fall into.

Let’s see if you can guess who you are.  The Ectomorph body type has a skinny appearance and a high metabolism that is often hungry with little weight gain.  The mesomorph body type can easily build lean muscle with weight training while maintaining low body fat.  Now guess who I am?  Last but not least is the endomorph body type which has a slow metabolism, a hard time dropping weight, and appears heavier in appearance.  Praise God, I am an endomorph.  Of course, I asked God why I was blessed with the “special” body type that requires so much work to get back to my slim self.  One of the great things I learned is God did not intend for us to look alike.  We are not a one size fits all, but we all have the responsibility to be our best self in the eyes of our heavenly Father.  So, I am a child of God who happens to have an endomorph body type.  It is so wonderful to put a name to the face.  Now, what do I do about it? 

We have become fascinated with beauty.  Advertisers spend millions of dollars to promote beauty.  Women spend a great deal of money on makeup, fashionable clothing, and jewelry.  Plastic surgeons make millions nipping, tucking, and reshaping.  But what is the true beauty of a woman?  What makes us genuinely attractive?  Many of us may not admit it, but we do not feel attractive because we do not fit a certain image.  But God crafted each of us specifically and it is up to us to take care of the body He gave us.  It is so comforting to know I don’t have to look like a TV commercial to be beautiful.  I don’t have to look 21 forever.  I can grow gracefully in God and improve my appearance not because of society’s standards, but because God intends for me to be my personal best in my skin.

As women, God wants us to see ourselves the way He sees us.  God wants us to see he designed us from our mother’s womb.  He graced us with self-confidence if we tap into it, and He wants us to have a healthy mind, body and spirit.  When God looks at you, He sees beauty and strength of a loving woman who has the confidence to allow Him to help you reach your personal goals.

Yes, I am an endomorph.  This means that my diet has to be specifically designed in order for me to see success, and I have to move more than the ectomorph and the mesomorph body types.  But I am thrilled that one is never too old to embrace new challenges.  This is one challenge I embrace.  I want to look at myself one day and see exactly what my heavenly Father sees. 

Do you see what God sees in you?

God Bless You,

Dawn Smiling, the proud endomorph

Dawn Smiling enjoys volunteering at Grace Family Church as a prayer counselor, part of the soul care ministry, and as a table leader for Beautiful Monday Nights.