What if-Seeing Through Different Eyes

Hey, its Ronai!

I did something that was long overdue. I had professional photos taken so I can update my website and better reflect the direction God is leading me in my speaking, coaching, and writing.

The funny thing is, the biggest lesson from today had nothing to do with branding, websites, or photos. It had everything to do with perspective.

A little while after the photo shoot, my photographer, Samuel, sent me a preview image with this message: "Oh my flippin' word, you are SO adorable!!!

I haven't even gotten to edit any of these and THIS one I shot BW came up!!! You should blast this on your social. I bet you get some engagement with that awesome smile! And what a setting. Such a nice gift from your friend!"

Samuel is an amazing photographer, and if you're looking for someone who can make you feel comfortable in front of a camera, I highly recommend him.

When I shared the photo with my daughter, Ellie, and her best friend Emily, they immediately loved it. Both of them had been with me during the shoot. Their job was to keep me laughing, make sure my hair looked good, confirm my zipper was up, and generally make sure I didn't take myself too seriously.

Mission accomplished.

Ellie and Emily were so successful at making everyone laugh that at one point Samuel had to kindly ask them to dial it back a little because he was laughing too hard to take pictures. Their mission to help me relax worked perfectly. They commented on how happy I looked in the photo.

Then I looked at it. And immediately started picking it apart.

I wish that piece of hair was different.

Why is my shirt bunching there?

Wow, have I really put on that much weight?

Could I have stood differently?

Maybe I should have...

You know the drill.

Within seconds, I had found a hundred little things that "needed fixing." Isn't it amazing how quickly we can criticize ourselves?

The photographer saw joy.

My daughter saw happiness.

Emily just "LOVED IT"

I saw flaws.

It took me a moment to stop and realize what I was doing.

The woman in that picture is a daughter of the King.

She is fearfully and wonderfully made.

She is loved.

She is enough.

As I sat with the picture a little longer, something shifted. Instead of focusing on what I wished was different, I started seeing what was actually there. I saw a genuine smile. Not a forced smile. Not a "say cheese" smile. A real smile. A smile created by spending the day with people I love.

I saw a woman who has spent years working through body image struggles and self-criticism. A woman who is learning that her worth was never tied to a number on a scale, a perfect hairstyle, or a flawless photograph. A woman who is finally learning to extend the same grace to herself that she so freely gives to others.

I saw gratitude.

I saw my son-in-law, who took time off work to watch the three boys so Ellie could spend the day helping me relax and enjoy the experience. I saw Emily, who took a day off work to do my makeup and provide endless comic relief. I saw Samuel, who despite having a difficult week himself, showed up fully present and made me feel like I was his most important client. I saw Andrea who graciously opened her beautiful home at the last minute so we wouldn't have to spend hours outside in nearly 90-degree weather.

I saw friendship.

I saw generosity.

I saw kindness.

I saw people giving their time, energy, and hearts to make the day special.

And then I realized something. So often we look at ourselves through a lens of criticism while everyone around us sees something entirely different.

We notice our imperfections.

They notice our smile.

We notice our flaws.

They notice our heart.

We notice what we wish we could change.

They notice who we are becoming.

And then there is the way God sees us. Our Heavenly Father doesn't see us through the lens of insecurity, comparison, shame, or criticism. He sees His beloved children.

He sees people created on purpose and for a purpose.

He sees beauty where we see flaws.

He sees growth where we see shortcomings.

He sees possibility where we see limitations.

He sees the whole story.

I wonder how many of us spend our lives believing the harshest voice in the room when that voice is often our own.

What if we started seeing ourselves the way God sees us? What if we looked at ourselves with the same compassion we offer a friend? What if we believed that we are loved right now, not someday when we lose weight, fix our hair, make more money, or finally become whatever version of "perfect" we've created in our minds?

Today, God used a photograph to remind me of something I already knew but needed to remember.

I am His daughter.

I am loved.

I am enough.

And maybe you need that reminder today too.

Psalm 139:14 "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

The next time you look at a photograph of yourself, try looking beyond the imperfections.

Look for the smile.

Look for the story.

Look for the people who love you.

Look for the evidence of God's faithfulness.

You might just see someone beautiful looking back at you.