By: Lili Pettigrew
When you were a little girl, did a part of your physical body make you self-conscious? Were your ears bigger than your best friend’s? Did you want brown eyes instead of blue? Curly hair instead of straight? All of us likely had some sort of insecurity growing up, but sadly, many women continue to doubt their bodies well into their adult years. This common struggle with body image that women find themselves in can start when we are quite young.
According to the National Organization for Women, 53% of American girls are unhappy with their bodies by the time they are 13, and 78% by the time they are 17. Additionally, “By age 60, 28.7% of women feel ‘dissatisfied,’ and 32.6% feel ‘self-conscious’ about their bodies.” Why do these statistics matter? They matter because you likely know exactly what it is like to feel unworthy, and many girls start believing it to be true at a very young age.
Further research suggests that girls even as young as preschoolers begin to devalue themselves. According to the organization Coram PACEY, “By the age of 3 or 4 some children have…begun to make up their minds…about how bodies should look. There is also research evidence to suggest that some 4-year-olds are aware of strategies as to how to lose weight.” Additionally, according to the University of Washington, by age five children have a strong sense of self-esteem, meaning that they are already being shaped by what is around them to perceive their own worth.
As a mother, Laura Wifler wanted to help her daughters know the truth about their worth as early as possible, so she wrote a beautiful picture book: Your Worth Never Wavers, set to release on September 16. The book creates a foundation of truth for girls to build their views of self-worth. Thanks to artist Sara Ugolotti, the book contains beautiful illustrations full of colors, nature, and diverse mother-daughter pairings. The prose of the book reads like a mother speaking to her daughter, reminding her of her worth found in God’s love and her beauty in being His creation. Just as God created the beautiful world we live in, so He created each of us. The words are rich, beautiful, and encouraging.
As a 21-year-old who has had her fair share of self-doubt, I teared up reading Your Worth Never Wavers. It’s so easy to forget where our worth is found and so hard to find truth in a media culture that has distorted our view of beauty. Reading this book made me realize that it’s not just for young daughters, but for their mothers as well. If those sweet girls can start to believe that they are worthy, why not their caretakers? Together, women young and old should be reminded of their worth and have no doubt that they are uniquely beautiful and treasured by their Creator.
To ministry leaders and parents, I urge you to introduce the girls in your care to this wonderful book, because I believe its message gently shares a vital truth with girls in a time when they are growing in their bodies, minds, and hearts. I cannot wait for it to be released, because it no doubt will help shape many hearts.
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Celebrate Pastor’s Appreciation Month with Kids
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