In my twenties, I owned a bird, a Senegal Parrot. I named him L.G., short for Little Geek. In retrospect, it was not a nice name.
Maybe I felt guilty, but over time a habit developed between the two of us. Each morning when I emerged from my bedroom into the small apartment living room, I said the same two words to him.
“Hi Cutie.”
The store salesman which sold me L.G. explaine he wouldn’t be a speaking bird, so I never tried to teach him to speak. And yet, one day it happened.
As I rose to make breakfast, I walked into the living room. Across the brown carpet, echoing from a black rot iron cage, I heard my small green and orange feathered friend say the same words to me.
“Hi Cutie.”
At first, it startled me. He repeated it more and more until it became a daily ritual. Eventually, I welcomed it. These words brightened my day. No one had ever called me “cutie.”
Years later, long after L.G. had departed this world, I met a wonderful man who claimed his love for me and promised to honor me throughout our lives. Following our marriage, he began a new habit.
He greeted me the same way, every day, all the time. He said, “Hi Gorgeous.”
He had upped the ante. At first, I resisted the strength of these words. “I’m not gorgeous.” I told myself. But he seemed to believe the words, so I humored him. That’s all it was for the first few years, me choosing to let him think what he wanted.
Then, something happened.
I started believing the words, not in a huge-head sort of way. I believed God made me to be gorgeous, because God made all of us to be gorgeous.
This realization ignited a simple mission within my heart. I wanted to tell every woman, everywhere, the truth of this revelation.
You are gorgeous.
You are made in the image of God. He designed the intricacies of you.
Those things we compare with others, those things we overly self-examine. Large, small, short, tall, blond, red-head or purple streaked, you are gorgeous.
“He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Ecclesiates 3:11a
As a mom of two daughters, God reaffirms this truth over and over within my life. While watching small munchkins practice gymnastics or synchronized swimming, I see the various shapes and shades of color represented.
Some excel easily and some struggle, but all those girls are gorgeous. With their brilliant smiles and contagious giggles, they each shine in their own unique way.
We women aren’t different, just bigger. We also shine in our own unique ways.
If you meet me face to face one day, you’ll probably hear me say it to you. Please know it’s not an off-the-cuff euphemism. I’m not humoring you or forgetting your name.
I mean it every time I say it, because it’s true. So, let me say it now.
“Hi Gorgeous.”
If you believe these words are true, spread the love. Start a new habit to help other women believe the truth of God in their lives.
Who are some of the gorgeous people you know?
Paula Whidden, Faithful Choices
Leave a Comment
brie. says
oh this was so timely. for some reason i’ve been working through some body image issues (something I rarely struggle with) and this morning at the gym (working on those issues 🙂 ) every woman seemed more fit, more fabulous, more of everything i felt i wasn’t…thanks for calling me gorgeous…
Paula Whidden says
Brie,
It’s my pleasure. Please absorb the truth and then share it with others. The more you do the more you’ll realize how true it is.
Amy Hunt says
Paula,
Just saying it to someone else represents the long road it took to get to where you are now. To the believing. And the proclaiming. It’s beautiful worship, you know. And it’s truly honoring to His love for you.
It took me a long while to get to where I believe I’m beautiful. And so I understand you as best I can. And “gorgeous”…it’s a big word. But it’s truth!
Your writing here is encouraging and honoring in every way.
Rich blessings as He shows you more of His heart…in His time.
Paula Whidden says
Thank you Amy.
Stacey says
Thanks for the Amazing devotion, Gorgeous <3 God has blessed me with a truly Gorgeous friend named Tami <3
Amy @ themessymiddle says
Love this! My niece Anna is going through a phase where “gorgeous” is her word. Everything is gorgeous … and she’s quite sincere in it! You’re right, we ARE gorgeous in his eyes.
Jennifer says
Thanks! I could always use a little reminder on this topic. In fact, I may have to get me a parrot and train it to call me gorgeous! 😉 Seriously, I may have to start calling the women in my life “gorgeous” more often.
Paula Whidden says
Hi Jennifer, You just gave me a nice giggle. I suspect you’ll be great at helping others know the beauty God gives them every day.
Mindy @ New Equus - A New Creation says
My daughter is truly gorgeous to me. Even with all my mistakes as a parent, she has turned out to be such a blessing for me and for all the lives that she has touched!
bonnie says
I,too, have a Senega by the name of JimiTu… well, he was named JimiTu for 16 years and a few months ago he laid 2 eggs, And he is now JimiSu!
Paula Whidden says
Bonnie, what an outrageous surprise. Birds are fun.
Gloria says
Gorgeous= My Mom, my daughter, my cousin, my niece. They are all gorgeous inside and out, such inspiration:)
Beth Williams says
Paula,
Women especially need to hear “Hi Gorgeous” more often & accept the compliment. All women are gorgeous on the inside! We are truly made in God’s image!
My gorgeous includes: Kathy, Tammy, Jill, Coco, Marie, Debbie, Peggy, Cathy, Jeanne–most or all of the women in my life!
Paula Whidden says
Hi Beth,
I think you’re on the right track. One thing I’ve discovered as I say these words. All women are truly gorgeous on the outside too. I love absorbing the uniqueness of each lady I meet.
Welcome (in)courage readers | Faithful Choices says
[…] called (in)courage.com. If you have a chance to check it out, please do. It’s entitled “Hi Gorgeous.” Frankly, I think you’re all gorgeous, even the guys. (No flirtation […]
Julie Sunne says
Very timely post, Paula, and well said! I wrote a similar one yesterday. So many gorgeous women in my life–and some handsome men as well! Blessings.
Paula Whidden says
Thank you Julie. Blessings to you as well.
melody says
Paula,
How beautiful. Truly lovely and I love the idea of challenging us to spread the love!
Trying to see the beauty around me each and every day,
melody
Darcy @ Message in a Mason Jar says
Refreshing words, here. I can think back to some particular days when I didn’t feel all that beautiful and a random lady at the pet store, or a student at the school where I worked, would give me a very particular comment about one of my features. I do think God sends these people to tip our chins up and surprise us with compliments when we aren’t appreciating His handiwork in us. And as you’ve shown us here, he can even use a bird who’s not supposed to know how to talk. Love it!
Christan says
Paula, thank you. Your post brought tears to my eyes. I did a series on body image on my own blog last month, and it was the hardest writing I’ve ever done. Oh, you’ve struck quite a chord again today. Thank you.
Anonymous says
Hi Darcy, thank you for sharing the difference all those people made in your day.
Anonymous says
Christian it is so true. We all find our body image challenging to our hearts.
Christine says
I love this post! What a sweet story. Little L.G. taught a great big lesson…and is still teaching many others! : ) We never know who God will use!
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