When I was a little girl there was a popular television commercial about furniture polish that featured a woman dusting a table. Afterward she was able to see her reflection in the table and proclaimed, “I can see myself!”

How do you see yourself?  Self-image is a much-discussed topic. Maltz Maxwell wrote, “Our self image, strongly held, essentially determines what we become.”  Having a positive self-image is an important part of maintaining good mental health.

Years ago amusement parks had fun houses where there were wacky mirrors. When you stood before the mirrors, you saw distorted reflections; one made you look very tall, another very short. It was quite comical. Unfortunately many people are walking around with distorted self-images, as if they’ve been looking into those mirrors.

We’ve all read stories about young women who struggle with self-image problems. Perhaps they do not look like an image projected by a celebrity or in a magazine. Sadly, many develop life-threatening eating disorders because of these distorted self- images.  Even older women fall prey to industry standards and often undergo dangerous procedures in an effort to look younger than they are.

Self image is also shaped by the way others see you.  Nicknames and labels are often coined early in life; by well-meaning relatives or not-so-well meaning playmates. People carry these images of themselves into adulthood. Do you remember Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale The Ugly Duckling? The story tells of a homely little bird born in a barnyard who suffers ridicule and abuse from his neighbors until, much to his delight (and to the surprise of others), he matures into a graceful swan, the most beautiful bird of all. His self- image improved greatly once he found out who he really was.

Sadly, human beings tend to focus only on physical appearance when assessing beauty or self image. No doubt you’ve heard the old adage “beauty is only skin deep.” Internal beauty is often overlooked, and little attention is paid to the development of character.

I was saddened when I came across a television program recently. It was a reality show about a beauty pageant for young girls. They looked like miniature adults – all decked out in full hair, excessive makeup and the finest little frocks that their mothers’ money could buy. I only hope that their parents were spending as much time and effort on developing their inner beauty.

The most important aspect of developing a good self image is to see yourself the way God sees you; from the inside out.   Looking into the mirror of His word can provide an accurate picture of who you really are.

In Psalm 139 David wrote about how well God knows each of us. He went to great lengths to create each of us uniquely. He knows everything about us and loves us deeply.  Imagine that!  Romans 8:38-39 reminds us that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.

So how do you see yourself?  See yourself the way God sees you; you’re unique, you’re special, you’re a masterpiece!