ponderings of the heart.

• as women, we should be supporting each other, not tearing one another down with words and gossip. jealousy rears its ugly head when a woman encounters another woman who may be wealthier, prettier, skinnier, etc. we are all given different talents, abilities, beauty, and uniqueness. at some point, we have all felt less than another. that insecurity can eat your confidence for lunch if you let it. what a revolution it would be if we genuinely support and want another woman to succeed. be the change.

• in the past month, i have witnessed firsthand how not taking care of your body affects you in the long run. if you live off chips, fast food, pop, etc., you are slowly setting yourself up for health problems. and if you smoke, not only do you smell disgusting, but you are also increasing your risk of cancer. take care of yourself. eat right, exercise, drink water. (hey, if i can drink water, i know you can.) and don't forget to take care of your teeth. brush and floss at least 3 times everyday. as someone who hid her smile for yeeeears, i know how it feels to be embarrassed for others to see your teeth. the Lord blessed me with braces and dental care when i was 21. i haven't stopped smiling since! take care of that pretty smile. :)  

•  it breaks my heart (and partly sickens me) that young girls have role models who became famous from a sex tape, or that actin' a fool on a reality show is going to make them the next starlet to grace the covers of those trashy gossip magazines. society is killing the talent and confidence of young girls and women. we are told that skinny is beautiful, sex with multiple guys is okay, and taking down other people is the only way to get to the top. in my opinion, a role model is someone whose faith outshines their beauty; one whose character and integrity are admired qualities; one who respects herself enough to be modest because our bodies are temples. women of faith, like esther and mary. even women like rahab and bathsheba, both with a scandalous past, rose above their mistakes and played a key role in the lineage of Jesus Christ. those women are true role models.