Does Anyone Like Who They Are?

Alexandra of Denmark married the Prince of Wales, Albert Edward (later to become King Edward VII) on March 10, 1863.

Britons everywhere believed they had never seen a more beautiful woman. Tall, slender, with large hazel eyes, and long flowing red hair, both men and women of Great Britain viewed her as a goddess.

Imitating Beauty

This adoration for Alexandra expressed itself in some peculiar ways among women of the UK. Naturally, they copied the style dresses that she wore. And, because Alexandra wore a choker to hide a scar on her neck, women all over Great Britain wore chokers as well.

Then the “Alexandra limp” became the rage. In 1867, Alexandra had a desperate battle with rheumatic fever which left her with a noticeable limp. And women copied that too. First, they would wear shoes with different-sized heels to help them walk with a limp. Then shoe manufacturers met this demand. They specially made stylish shoes that would help women limp along as they walked.

One witness of this practice remarked, “Taking my customary walk the other day, observant of men, women, and things, I met three ladies. They were all three young, all three good-looking, and all three lame!’ Then someone explained to me, ‘Why that’s the Alexandra limp! How ugly!’”

Princess Alexandra’s Desire

A somewhat sad element about the whole affair: while all women longed to be like Princess Alexandra, she would have loved to be more like them. She was ashamed of her scars and mortified over her limp which, she believed, robbed her of any gracefulness.

Self-Hatred

That seems to be the way things always are. Nobody seems to be happy with who and what they are. Everyone seems to be driven along by feelings of inadequacy or self-hatred. Girls hate their own appearance and beat themselves up for not looking more like Barbie. Women who are physically endowed with beauty and grace believe it makes them look weak and vulnerable. So they disfigure themselves with body modifications, so they can look more “lean and mean.” More and more men and women are displeased with their own gender. They will mutilate their bodies to become someone else. Perhaps most tragic is that our culture—and even our government—encourages this self-hatred. They hail such deviancy as expressions of bravery.

You don’t need the approval of others. You already have your heavenly Father’s approval.

Self-hatred is the underlying current that fuels much of our environmental movement which continually vilifies human beings. Instead, it portrays animals, trees, and all of nature as the good, after which we should model ourselves.

Designed As Intended

Friend, the beautiful truth is that you and I are exactly what God designed us to be. He endowed every one of us with gifts, abilities, and a certain assortment of physical, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual attributes. These gifts uniquely fit us for specialized tasks that only we can accomplish. God doesn’t want you to be someone or something else. In love, He chose your color, gender, body configuration, personality traits, and abilities.

You are made to God’s own specifications (Ps. 139:13–18). That is all the validity you and I will ever need. That is all the authorization to live that you and I will ever need. You don’t require the approval of others. You already have your heavenly Father’s approval. God cannot help smiling when He looks at you, for in you, He always sees something of Himself.

Let God love you. He loves you just as you are. Run into His loving arms. His divine embrace is the place of ultimate healing and peace.