“My thighs are so fat.”

The apologetic words came spilling out in response to me seeing her partially uncovered legs. There should be no shame, and yet… there it was. Words breathed out, laced with shame. I felt the pain in the air.

Words sprang to my lips, quick and ready to disagree with her to ease her ache. But before I could even form the words, I knew I wasn’t supposed to say them.

A prayer as quick as lightning sprang from my heart. “What do I say then, Jesus?” Immediately, words straight from the Creator’s heart came to my lips.

“Speak truth,” He said. “Tell her what a blessing her legs are.”

“Your legs? Well, I think they’re amazing,” I said. “They work hard. They move and carry your body where you want to go.”

Her smile, reassured. The edge in the air, gone. “You’re right. My legs are pretty amazing! They do work hard!” I felt the smile and relief in her words.

All day, this exchange lingered in my mind. The power of truth. Shame cannot reside when a heart accepts truth.

Tonight my eyes caught sight of my body in the mirror as I changed into my pajamas. My mouth never said a word, but my mind sure was talking about my body and the words weren’t nice.

Suddenly – this interruption from God, my Creator. “I love your body.”

My mouth hangs open, my heart receiving His. “You’re right, God. It is pretty amazing, when I think about all it is able to do. Thank you for speaking truth to me.”

I smile… shame displaced. Relief and love reign.