The other evening I was celebrating with two dear friends my three year victory over cancer. To me, as I gazed across the table at them, they were two of the loveliest women I'd ever seen, for they had offered me care when I was too weak or sick to function. We took photos to commemorate the event, and as we looked at the photos we'd just taken, I was dismayed to hear them severely criticize their appearance. They were very upset with different features and talked horribly about themselves, to which I responded, "Please don't talk that way about my friends." On the way home, this occurrence of severe self-criticism caused me to have the following thoughts for my little sisters of the world.
Dearest Little Sisters, If your lips are too large, It is only because you have been given the capacity to offer large messages of hope. If you have more than one chin, It is only because your mouth needs the extra support for the care your speech will offer others. If your hair is gray and thinning, It is only because you have worried over others when offering them your care. If your body is too large, It is only because you have been given the capacity to hold others up when they have fallen down. If your body or stature is too small, It is only because you have been given the size to get into the small places of others where hurt resides. If your hands are too large, It is only because you have been given the capacity to offer a tender touch to a sick child. If your hips are too large, It is because they have the capacity to bring forth the generations. If your body is sick or mangled, It is only because you have been given the opportunity to inspire through self- acceptance. Little Sisters, Do you know what you are worth? Do you know that what you have been given is there to be used for others? Do you know that you are uniquely beautiful in every way imaginable? When people look back upon their lives and remember the people who were special to them, They do not remember dress size, extra chins, or size of body. No, Little Sisters. When people look back over their lives, The only thing they remember is the care you offered, the joy you gave. Know the worth of what you have been given, and celebrate all that you are. Everything you have is for a purpose. The only feature people will remember Is the size and beauty of your heart. With love, A woman who has received all these things, and more from every size and shape imaginable.