I remember growing up and being told by my family and friends:
- your eyes are too big
- your forehead is too big
- your lips are too big
- your feet are too big ( as I started to wear a size 10 shoe when I was in middle school)
- your ears are too big (I hated Christmas..because I knew I was going to be called Baby New Year by one of my cousins)
- and oh yes…you would be cute if you did not have those freckles.
I remember every comment as if they were said to me yesterday. And they effected me immensely. For most of my life, I never thought I was “cute enough” and I have always been self conscious about my looks.
But then, there was my mother.
She was always there to tell me how much she loved my big eyes..because they were just like hers and like her mother’s, and her mother’s mother. And she told me that she loved my freckles. And that they were angel kisses. My mom is a tall woman and she also wears a size 10 shoe. She loves being tall..she said it was powerful.
I never forgot my mother’s encouraging words! And as I grew up, I learned to appreciate my big brown eyes, my full lips, my angel kisses, and my entire body from head to toe. Yes, I even love my size 10.5 feet (they grew after I had my babies.) And I so appreciate my mother, for loving me just the way I was. I could see it every time she looked at me.
Check me out now. I’m not covering up my freckles with a whole bunch of make-up. And, I ‘m even rocking my natural hair!!
And now I have 4 beautiful kids. And since I know how powerful our words can be, I will make sure that they know how beautiful they are. But check out my youngest. Who does she look like? Yep, she’s a mini-me! And we found 6 angel kisses on her face last week. The entire family celebrated. She said mommy: “Now I have angel kisses just like you.”
BMWK – Have you ever dealt with family or friends saying cruel things to you? Was there someone in your past, like my mother, that always encouraged you when others didn’t?
Each new day provides you with an opportunity to have special moments with your family.
Disclosure: This post is part of a series that is sponsored by Hallmark and the Life is a Special Occasion campaign. All opinions and editorial content expressed are my own.