This morning, like countless mornings as a mom, my day began at 5:30 am with the familiar, delightful chaos of making school lunch, and getting my children ready for school. The scent of their breakfast, the last-minute scramble for a forgotten book, the sweet goodbyes, and watching my seventeen-month-old eagerly grab his bag and rush to the door so everyone can hurry up and follow him is a symphony many of us know well. Then, came my own quiet routines: enjoying the peace of being alone, and the comforting warmth of a shower. I need a shower where I do not have to rush or shout at someone to leave my bathroom, and not open the shower door while I am bathing. I enjoy the familiar feel of applying cream on my body, rubbing my homemade body perfume oil, and the simple act of dressing for my day. 

But today, as I stood before my mirror, my reflection held a different kind of power. Instead of the usual internal dialogue of critiquing my body and wishing for it to be what I dream of, I felt a sense of gratitude pour over me, a feeling that settled deep into my bones.

“God, I am thankful,” I whispered, surprising even myself. Then the remaining prayer followed like a poet spitting bars. “God, I am grateful for my beautiful body.” The words came out. This was not a thank you for a body that fit the societal mold of perfect, flawless, airbrushed, or unblemished. No, the beauty I saw today was much deeper. It was the beauty of a story, a testament to a life lived, to love given, to battles won. My body, in its current form, bears the undeniable sacred marks of womanhood, and even more deeply, of motherhood. 

My gaze softened as I looked at my stretch marks, those silvery lines that once brought a pang of disappointment. Today, for the first time, I saw them not as flaws, but as badges of honor, and etched maps of a miraculous journey. “Thank you for the stretch marks,” I acknowledged, my voice laced with a newfound reverence. They are constant, tender reminders that I am a mother, a blessed status, a sacred journey so heartbreakingly denied to countless women who long for it with every fiber of their being. This sudden clarity, this embrace of the beauty of imperfection, felt like a revelation.

The Sacred Scars: A Mother’s Evolving Canvas

This body carried within it and brought forth two handsome, brilliant, and truly wonderful boys. My once-taut stomach, a flat landscape I knew so well, now carries the indelible narrative of their growth. It is a softer curve, yes, a testament to the life it nurtured, and the space it created. And honestly, a part of me still yearns for that pre-baby silhouette, for the nostalgic dream of a 29-inch waist, for the clothes that once fit with effortless grace. But this morning, those lingering desires were overshadowed by an overwhelming flood of blessings. This body, in its current, magnificent form, is living proof of divine grace asa vessel chosen for an incredible, life-altering purpose. It proudly displays the journey of motherhood, a path I am so incredibly blessed to walk, a testament to the beauty of imperfection.

I looked at my hips, no longer just a measurement on a tape, but a testament to strength, to expansion, to holding and releasing life. My entire being resonated with this newfound appreciation. The stretch marks tracing my skin, once perceived as imperfections, transformed before my eyes into visible triumphs. They are the beautiful scars of victory, the silent witnesses to the powerful, primal act of bringing life forth. Each mark tells a story of intense labor, of carrying two sons, twice, for nine miraculous months each. My body stretched, expanded, and transformed daily, not just to house babies, but to create and bring forth men of vision, men who will build legacies, men destined for greatness, men who are nations. This body, this amazing, resilient body, grew and adapted, twice over, through that beautiful, challenging, and life-altering journey. This is the raw, undeniable beauty of imperfection.

My gratitude overflowed like a wellspring from deep within. I found myself thanking God for the honor of carrying such beautiful memories, for walking such a remarkable path. The stretch marks adorning my thighs, my stomach, and even parts of my buttocks – areas I once tried so hard to hide – became, in that powerful moment, symbols of beauty of imperfection. They signify that I entered the sacred, transformative realm of childbirth and emerged whole—my mind intact, my body resilient, and my essence vibrantly present. I came back with hips my husband now adores, seeing their new curves as a testament to my strength and a beautiful evolution. I came back with long, thick, and lustrous hair, a small, unexpected gift amidst the larger changes. My life, every facet of it, from the grand transformations to the subtle shifts, feels like a living testament to greatness.

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The Unfiltered Reality: Changing Forms, Enduring Gratitude

This morning, my attention also lingered on my breasts. These breasts, which I had always loved, deeply cherished, almost adored. Growing up, they were a source of immense confidence—plump, firm, always “popped out” and standing proudly, a vibrant declaration whenever I undressed. My female friends, seeing their fullness, often expressed envy. Now, after bearing, nourishing, and sustaining life, they hang lower. The gravity of motherhood, literal and metaphorical, has left its mark. 

I have found myself subtly, almost unconsciously, shying away from certain necklines, from clothes that once felt so effortlessly beautiful and liberating. I constantly find myself wondering if there is a “miracle” half-bra out there, some engineering marvel that can lift “these girls” up again, defying the laws of physics and postpartum reality. It is a noticeable change, a deeply personal physical marker of this incredible, demanding, and ultimately, rewarding journey. Yet, even in this vulnerable observation, there is a unique beauty of imperfection that comes with nurturing life, a story of selflessness and sacrifice written on my very skin.

And then, my stomach. Oh, my stomach! It is a source of deep frustration, and honestly, a bit of quiet embarrassment that I rarely voice aloud. I wear a size medium, a generally accepted “average” size, yet I can no longer see my vagina without explicitly looking in the mirror. For a woman my size, it feels counter-intuitive, almost like a betrayal of expectation. I feel I should be able to see it, to connect with that intimate part of myself daily, effortlessly. 

The reality of not being able to visually connect with that part of my body, the part that birthed life, can be surprisingly disheartening. And the practicalities? Shaving has become a time-consuming, challenging ordeal, requiring awkward angles and an almost gymnastic flexibility. It is a small, daily frustration that compounds the feeling of disconnect. However, even with these new physical realities, these surprising alterations that childbirth etched upon my form, the prevailing feeling that anchors me is still gratitude. Thank you, God. This journey, with all its unexpected shifts, its undeniable changes, its areas of frustration, still holds a deeper beauty of imperfection. It’s a reminder that life’s most profound gifts often come with transformations we didn’t anticipate, but which ultimately carry their own unique grace.

Think about it for a moment, truly ponder the immense desire so many harbor for this very experience. Across cultures, across continents, millions of dollars are spent on fertility treatments, on surrogacy; countless prayers are offered daily for the chance to bear these “scars,” these beautiful marks of motherhood. Women would embrace any physical change, endure any discomfort, for the sheer joy of carrying a child to term. And I? I experienced it not once, but twice, with an ease that continually humbles me to my core. My first son arrived so swiftly, so naturally, it felt almost effortless, an unexpected blessing. My second son followed so closely that I was still in the early stages of recovery from the first birth! The sheer grace with which God gifted me these children, the comparative ease of my pregnancies and deliveries, is a profound blessing, a journey many yearn for but tragically never experience. 

Beyond the Physical: Appreciating Present Blessings in Every Corner of Life

This newfound gratitude and shift in perspective, extended far beyond my physical form. It spread throughout my life, settling into spaces I once viewed with a critical eye. My home, for instance. It’s not my dream house, not the grand dwelling I often envision, the one I sometimes still include in my daily prayers. But this morning, instead of longing for what’s next, I chose to bathe it in appreciation for what it is, right now. It may not be perfect, but it is a sanctuary, brimming with the palpable warmth of love, laughter, and the bustling energy of my children. Even in its flaws, in its small quirks and imperfections, there is an undeniable beauty of imperfection that makes it uniquely ours. It is my haven.

Consider the realities of living in West Africa, specifically Nigeria, where the persistent presence of mosquitoes is a daily fact of life. The incessant whine in your ear as you try to sleep, the itchy bites, the constant battle against malaria, it’s a shared experience here. Yet, even this mundane challenge is a strange form of gratitude in me today. I realized the immense blessing of not being plagued by their constant whine in my ears every night. I am thankful for screened windows, for the privilege of a peaceful night’s rest, free from that particular torment. It’s a small thing, yes, but it speaks volumes about the everyday comforts we often overlook.

I am thankful for this cozy en-suite room, for the luxury of a private bathroom attached to my personal space. I am thankful for a three-bedroom house with nearly four bathrooms, a testament to comfort and convenience that many aspire to. I am  grateful for the ability to afford help, a maid who assists me, making my daily life undeniably easier, freeing up precious time and energy for my work, children and myself. And for a husband who, this very morning, when I overslept and the clock raced towards school time, stepped in without a word to help bathe the children, a level of partnership, support, and shared responsibility that, sadly, not everyone is fortunate enough to experience. These are the threads of everyday blessings, woven into the tapestry of my life, each representing a quiet beauty of imperfection that makes life rich.

My life, with its burgeoning career that I’m actively building, small and large blessings, feels deeply appreciated. But as I stood before that mirror, it was this body, in all its current, evolving reality, that truly held my focus. While the dream of a “perfect” body persists, a vision of what could be, today, I consciously choose to love and appreciate the one I have right now. This is a powerful, ongoing step towards recognizing and celebrating the beauty of imperfection that defines our human experience. It’s about accepting the now, even as we strive for the future.

Cultivating Gratitude: Living Your Answered Prayers

This heartfelt reflection is an invitation to everyone reading this, especially in our collective, relentless pursuit of “the next big thing.” It’s so easy to get caught up in the chase, isn’t it? Yes, it’s absolutely right to pray for our desires; God wishes for our abundant prosperity, for us to truly thrive and flourish. But in the midst of our aspirations, in the space between where we are and where we want to be, let’s pause. Let’s truly see, truly feel, what we already possess. Your current reality might not be flawless; it might even be the antithesis of your grandest desires. Yet, consider this: you possess the gift of life itself, a miracle beyond measure. You have shelter; even for those sleeping in their cars, a car provides more protection and solace than the open sky and a cold, wet ground. Others are sleeping in the rain, sitting exposed on the side of the road without basic cover.

Let’s cultivate a deep, abiding gratitude for where we are right now, for every single blessing, no matter how small, how seemingly insignificant. Let us truly embrace the beauty of imperfection that is inherent in our present circumstances.

If you’re feeling weighed down by unmet expectations, if you’ve lost sight of God’s past blessings, or if you’re perpetually chasing the next horizon, simply stop. Just stop. Take five minutes. Maybe ten. Give yourself permission to immerse yourself fully in the inherent beauty of your surroundings. See the beauty of imperfection in the everyday, the messy, the imperfect moments that make up your life. If you were to look at your life in the eyes of an artist, how beautiful yet imperfect would your life look like? Imagine painting your life, with all its light and shadow, its triumphs and struggles. It would undoubtedly be a masterpiece, full of texture and depth. See that beauty of imperfection through the eyes of an artist, a perspective that transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary.

We are so often looking ahead, praying for what we want, strategizing for what we don’t want, constantly in a state of striving. And in this striving, we often forget the truth: we are already living in the midst of answered prayers. While we might not be at our ultimate destination, the pinnacle of our dreams, take a moment to look back. Remember those times when you were on your knees, pouring out your heart in prayer for the very things you now have. You are living your answered prayers, right here, right now. Cherish what you have. Never forget that. There is an undeniable beauty of imperfection in this powerful truth, a testament to God’s continuous blessings.

Embracing the beauty of imperfection isn’t just a philosophical idea; it’s a powerful, actionable pathway to daily self-care and authentic personal growth. It’s a conscious, daily shift from focusing on what’s missing to celebrating the abundance already present in your life. This mindset is the cornerstone of the resources I’ve thoughtfully created to support you on your unique journey.

For those moments of quiet reflection, when you need a gentle nudge towards self-appreciation and a moment to reconnect with your inner wisdom, our printable self-care journal is a perfect companion. It provides dedicated space to acknowledge your blessings, honor your resilience through life’s changes (like my own evolving body with its stretch marks and changed form), and see the triumphs woven into your unique story. It’s designed to help you pause, breathe, and truly find the beauty of imperfection in your own narrative, encouraging you to write your story with compassion and gratitude.

Nurturing our relationships, especially with our partners, is equally vital for a fulfilling life. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, amidst the routines and responsibilities, true connection can sometimes fade, like a distant whisper. Our printable couples’ communication cards are designed to rekindle meaningful conversations, to spark connection beyond the surface, and to foster deeper understanding and empathy between you and your loved one. They help you both to truly see and appreciate the beautiful imperfections within your shared journey, celebrating the unique tapestry you weave together.

To extend this spirit of gratitude and positivity outward, to share the light you’ve found with others, our Printable Daily Commands Prayer Cards: Speak To Your Day! offer a simple yet profoundly impactful way to share your appreciation. They serve as a lovely, tangible reminder that every single day holds the potential for blessings, even in the most ordinary moments, in the smallest gestures. They help others, and yourself, to see the quiet beauty of imperfection that permeates daily life.

And for a more structured, guided approach to identifying and cultivating your strengths, to setting intentions and tracking your progress, our printable personal growth journal and Self-Help Journal can be an invaluable guide. It’s a powerful tool for both introspection and action, helping you celebrate your achievements, however small, and consciously recognize the answered prayers you are living each and every day. This journal empowers you to actively discover and harness the beauty of imperfection as you grow, allowing you to learn from every experience and build a stronger, more grateful self.

These resources are here, thoughtfully created, to support you in cultivating a life rich with gratitude, strengthening your most important connections, and truly discovering the profound, transformative beauty of imperfection that surrounds you, within you, and in every aspect of your blessed existence.