Just The Way You Are

Can I just say that I LOVE the song "Just The Way You Are" by Bruno Mars? I'm sure you've probably heard it a millions times by now (and if you haven't... where have you been?!), but it's one of the few songs that I think I can honestly say I won't really get tired of hearing, no matter how much they may seem to "wear it out" on the radio. I mean, have you heard the lyrics? Seriously... what girl wouldn't want to hear this every day?:

And here are the lyrics to the song, to be sure you heard what he was saying:

Oh, her eyes, her eyes
Make the stars look like they're not shining.
Her hair, her hair
Falls perfectly without her trying.

She's so beautiful
And I tell her every day.

Yeah, I know, I know
When I compliment her
She won't believe me.
And it's so, it's so
Sad to think that she don't see what I see.

But every time she asks me, "Do I look okay?"
I say:

When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are.
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are.

Her lips, her lips
I could kiss them all day if she'd let me.
Her laugh, her laugh
She hates but I think it's so sexy.

She's so beautiful
And I tell her every day.

Oh, you know, you know, you know
I'd never ask you to change.
If perfect's what you're searching for
Then just stay the same.

So don't even bother asking
If you look okay;
You know I say:

When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are.
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are.

The way you are
The way you are
Girl you're amazing
Just the way you are.

When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are.
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are.

Yeah

I just LOVE it! Definitely one of the sweetest songs I've ever heard... one I think every girl should hear at least once, if not have memorized. 

Ever since I had Rylee, I've really struggled with my body image and feeling comfortable in my own skin. That might sound a little silly, because I actually weigh a few pounds less now than I weighed at the beginning of my pregnancy. But, for any of you who've had a baby before, you know as well as I do that your body is just never quite the same after another human being has occupied it. My stomach is not as flat and tight as it used to be, and I'm very self-conscious about it. I'm always so nervous that Jordan isn't attracted to me anymore... or at least not as much. This, of course, drives him crazy. He hates it when I make negative comments about the way I look, and he always does his best to reassure me that he thinks I'm "the most beautiful woman in the world" and is still very attracted to me. I do believe him when he tells me he feels that way, because I know how much he loves me. Simple as that. BUT, sometimes it's still hard for me to really FEEL beautiful when I look in the mirror and my reflection is telling me otherwise. 

It's times like these when I have to remember Who my TRUE beauty comes from, though. As great as this song is, the bigger picture is that I was created by an Almighty God! Genesis 1:27 says that I was created in HIS image, and Song of Soloman 4:7 says: "You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you." Although that second verse was actually written from a lover to his beloved, I can still apply it to how my Heavenly Father views me. He knows me better than anyone else could even begin to try to get to know me, and He sees every sin I commit, but He still looks past all my ugliness, and in His eyes, I am His child and I am beautiful. WOW. I want and need to try not to be so critical about my outward appearance. But more importantly, I need to make sure that I am focusing on what my heart looks like... my inner beauty is much more important than outer beauty. If my heart is reflecting the love of Christ, I will naturally be more beautiful on the outside anyway.