In today’s Family Minute national radio feature, I addressed the topic of “body image”—how someone feels or what he thinks about his or her physical appearance.
Americans are consumed with the topic. I don’t think I need to take your time to explain why we are so self-absorbed with our bodies and our appearance. I’d rather share with you how you can mitigate the cultural impact on how your spouse thinks he or she looks.
If you ask my wife, Susan, she will tell you that she does not suffer from some kind of poor body image. Why? Because of three A’s. And, by the way, even though I recently thought of these A’s, I’ve been doing them for as long as we’ve been married.
Affirmation
I regularly affirm her physically. I’ll tell her what an awesome body she has…even though we’re both starting to age! And I plan on telling her that the rest of her life. I heard someone tell me that the husband is responsible for his wife’s countenance. I believe it, and my wife shows it. I think she is captivating and I tell her.
Attention
My eyes and emotions are focused on Susan, not anyone else. She knows that my affections and attention rests with her.
Active
While I’d like for us to do more things together outdoors, we walk and sometimes work out together. When the kids all graduate, hopefully we’ll do it a bit more.
Having said all this, please don’t think that my point here is to put more focus on outward appearance, because what’s in the heart of a man or woman is what’s really important. But each of us are made in the image of God. And no matter what others think about the way you or your spouse looks, you can still uplift one another with these three A’s. Beauty is not only in the eye of the beholder, but also ultimately in the Creator.
Do you or your spouse have a poor body image? What are you doing about it?
