Self-Acceptance
La Aceptación del Uno Mismo
by
Mary Hunt Webb
Posted Tuesday, August 31, 2021
In the same way that animals accept their differences, abilities, and limitations, we must learn to do the same. [Photographer: Jennifer Aguirre.*]
At age 12, I was taller and more slender than most girls my age. By age 14, I had reached my full height. Most of my friends were shorter than I was so that I stood out when I was with other teenage girls. However, I knew that my older sister was even taller at 14 years old. While I was taller than the petite girls at school, I was shorter than my sister.
One of the things that consoled me was remembering a Sunday School lesson from my childhood about Zacchaeus who was so short that he had to climb a tree in order to see Jesus as Jesus passed by. (See Luke 19:1-5) In recalling that story, I took comfort from it because while Zacchaeus couldn't see over other people in a crowd, I often could.
Teenagers often compare themselves to others, as I did, and they end up being unhappy with the way they are. That's normal for adolescents. However, after I became an adult and put on some weight so that I was no longer so thin, I understood that I had been given a gift. Learning to accept my abilities as well as my limitations has been part of the growing process for me, as it is for many people. That is especially true now that I am older and gravity has taken over so that I am no longer tall.
Accepting who we are and what we have been given is part of the process of maturing. The Bible tells us, "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Galatians 5:14, NIV), but we must first learn to accept and love ourselves before we can accept those around us. It's a crucial step in getting along with others. God loves us just the way we are — height, weight, imperfections and all. He made us the way we are for a reason, and He gave us the abilities that we have for a purpose. When we realize that, then we can take our eyes off of the mirror and look around to see where we can be of service to Him.
When we stop focusing on the image in the mirror, we can more easily see the needs of others. [Photographer: Victoria Borodinova. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com.]
BIBLE VERSES USED IN THIS POSTING
Galatians 5:14 — "Jesus said: 'For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'". (NIV)
Gálatas 5:14 — "Jesús dijo: 'Porque toda la ley en esta sola palabra se cumple: Amarás a tu prójimo como a ti mismo'". (Reina-Valera 1960)
* Please do not use our original photos without our permission. These include photos by Mary Hunt Webb, Morris Webb, Jr., Morris Webb, Sr., C.B. Hunt, and Jennifer Aguirre. Thank you.
