Even though it feels a tad strange to write a letter to my body parts, I just have to get this off my chest: I need your forgiveness.
For so long I’ve looked down on you, sad that you weren’t a 6-pack, upset that you jiggled a bit at times, and self-conscious that maybe you weren’t the star of the show when I wore a bathing suit. To be fair I never really did anything to take good care of you though; I didn’t eat food that would satisfy you and help you nourish the rest of me, and I didn’t pay much attention to you when I worked out. It’s like expecting a plant to grow without giving it water and sunshine!
It’s more than the way you look, though, tummy. I haven’t been thankful for everything you do to me. You and I, we are fearfully and wonderfully made! God made you part of me for a reason – to help house a lot of the rest of me, to make it so I don’t go from boob to hips with nothing in between, to be attractive to Nate. We’ve housed two beautiful babies, the two of us, and during that you’ve been sick and stretched and mushed and kicked, then cut open and sewn back together. You are my favorite thing to lay on – those 9 months away were hard for me!
Over the past 30 years you’ve taken a lot of abuse – I used to land on you so often in volleyball, you helped me with my golf swing, plus that whole being cut-apart-and-sewn-back-together thing, and I’m sure a whole lot more. And yet through it all, even though I cried because you didn’t look the way I wanted you to, you’ve stayed with me, taking the brunt of every movement and staying strong for the rest of me. You’re kind of the rock star of my body, and I don’t realize or tell you often enough how thankful I am for you.
I promise to stop seeing you for what you’re not and being thankful for what you are. I promise to feed you good, wholesome food so that you can do your job more efficiently. I promise to think about you when I exercise, so that you can get stronger. I promise to touch your scars often to remember everything you’ve done for me and our babies. I promise to love you exactly where you’re at, and to stop being so self-centered.
Because tummy? The thing is this: I really do love you. I really am so thankful for you. And I really want to take care of you well because you deserve it.
So what do you say? Will you forgive me?
I love you.
Love,
Heather
So cute and a good reminder of how wonderfully we’re all made.:)
What beautiful truth! I love how you addressed you husband’s attraction to your tummy. I continually pray to see myself through the eyes of God and my husband.
It’s so true – they’re the ones who think we’re the most beautiful ever!
I had exactly the same feeling some months ago. We’re always torturing our body for what he’s not … Without being thankful for all he is !
Awww, this is too cute! I guess my tummy’s due for an apology or two as well.
Beautiful perspective, thanks! It’s especially meaningful reading this letter while I’m 7.5 months pregnant, and my baby boy is doing a rough number on my own tummy, kicking with all his little might at the moment!
Eryn Lynum
I totally needed to read this today. So yay for God’s perfect timing.
You. Are. Awesome. 🙂
What a beautiful letter! I couldn’t have read this at a better time. I am 33 weeks pregnant as of today with our first child and too often seem to focus on the changes of my body in a negative way. Your letter made me tear up a little because I can so relate. I plan to now write my own letter to my tummy and make sure I treat it the way it deserves! 🙂 I, too, am a “tummy layer” and cannot wait until I can partake in that again! Thanks for such a refreshing letter!
Congrats!! I’m right there with you, 34 weeks on Friday. 🙂
I can’t believe it’s 34 weeks already – I can’t wait to meet to little one!
Ah yes, I remember 33 weeks so well – isn’t it crazy how long 40 weeks feels, and yet it’s such a short time for our bodies to change that much? Hang in there girl – once you see that sweet face you’ll fully realize what a miracle our bodies are!