Have you seen this 8 minute video about girls and their moms and the impact of the “selfie?” It looks at the way we share and see ourselves and makes us take a closer look (and listen) to how we really feel about ourselves and our beauty. It also reveals a lot about what grown women are saying and who’s listening.

Who’s listening & learning?

Truth is … kids don’t miss much. And when it comes to our true feelings about ourselves, we might be revealing unhealthy habits about how we view our place in the world and how we measure our identity. Simply taking a selfie might reveal how we really feel about ourselves. We add to the identity of our girls by the way we talk about ourselves.

And you don’t have to be a mom to be an influencer. Youth leaders, Sunday School teachers, teachers, neighbors, aunts, room moms, best-friend’s moms, cousins …. you name it, and the older women around us impact our view of what identity is a worthy one. What are you saying about yourself? Who’s listening? We all influence those who come after us.

What God has to say about Selfie Thoughts

Honestly, writing about IDENTITY this month has been rough on my identity! I’ve ended up over-analyzing myself … without even taking a selfie! The best solution has been to think more about God than about me. What a relief that God gives us direction for how to think! When it comes to our identity, we need God’s thoughts instead of our own.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

Nevermind that this verse says, “brothers.” This speaks to anyone who is a follower of Christ, male or female. Anyone who has looked at their past identity and found a new identity in Jesus. When it comes to talking about our identity, let’s put it through this test:

Is it true?
Is it honorable?
Is it just?
Is it pure?
Is it lovely?
Is it commendable?
Is it excellent?
Is it worthy of praise?

I am so imperfect, but God’s grace is so perfect. Let’s remember that when we see our selfies! For those who are “in Christ,” He has declared us more than acceptable; He calls us the beloved children of God! That’s what our girls need to hear us talk about. Not about our nose, our hips, our gray hair, our flat feet, our ______. You name it. We all have an “it,” because we are not cookie-cutter creations. We are beautifully unique, glorifying our Maker by our very variety.

And in the spirit of rejoicing in our creative Lord who calls us beautiful … let the selfies begin!