Relax...be who God created you to be!

So many times in our society, I feel, we try to be something or someone we are not. The media often pushes us to change our appearance in order to "fit the status quo." Everyday millions of people seek medical help to change or enhance their bodies or faces. And everyday somewhere in the world someone takes their own life because they are unsatisfied with themselves either inwardly or outwardly. Wouldn't it be nice if we could grow and mature but maintain the self-accepting mind set of a child? Genesis 1:27 says, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." It seems to me that knowing we are created, patterned after the one perfect God would be enough for us to be satisfied with who we are. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's bad to want self enhancement or to strive to better yourself. What I'm saying is that it's wrong to want to change who God created you to be because you don't appreciate you for...you. Understand, when God created each and every one of us He knew what he was doing, after all... He knows ALL. James 1:7 says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." Our lives, bodies, minds, and appearances are all good and perfect gifts for God and we must cherish them. While encouraging someone to be themselves, I heard gospel artist Kirk Franklin say, "Stop straining, relax and be you. God created you just like He created the orange and apple trees. Have you ever seen an orange or apple tree straining to produce it fruits? Of course not, they are just being and doing what God created them to be and do. So be yourself it's easier than you think." That's so true, no matter how hard you strain your brain wishing you could be someone else, it won't happen. It's much easier just to relax and be who God created you to be. No one is better at being you than you and remember an original is always worth more than a copy. Think about it!