Sunday, October 3

For God so loved the world…
—John 3:16

In the fifties, Marilyn Monroe was the ideal woman. Girls across America wanted to have her “full figure.” In the sixties “Twiggy” was the ideal. She was skinny, so girls across America wanted to be thin. Today, skinny is in again: Runway models are very thin, gaunt, anorexic-looking, and voices are being raised about the bad effect that this image has on young girls.

The “ideal” is a passing and changing thing. Those who are well-versed in the latest trend are more likely to be at the top of the social heap, and those who aren’t oftentimes are made to feel “less than.”

Last night my wife and I went to hear Beethoven’s Third Symphony. I was ecstatic, having been a Beethoven and classical music fan for decades. She was not having a good time; she prefers to listen to music while she’s cooking or reading or knitting (she’s a classic multi-tasker!). So is one of us better than the other? Is being on top of the newest trend better than being traditional? Is someone who is ultra-thin better than a “full-figured” woman?

No. Decidedly not. The fact is that all of us are different. Different folks have different “gifts,” different inclinations, and different figures. But in fact we are not “better than” or “less than” others; we are simply different. God loves us all equally. It helps in our struggle with self-esteem to know that the One who made us loves us, unconditionally.

Help me, O Lord, to rejoice in your love for me. Amen.

These Signposts originally appeared on explorefaith in 2006.