Thank you, Amy! I've been reading your book Broken Waters this past week, and it has been deeply moving. I am so glad these words met you as yours have met me.
Thank you for reminding me that the belly and flobbitty arms are still in the image of God and show us something of God. A soft curvy God in a world of hard edges, what a beautiful picture you have painted.
May God grant you acceptance of your beautiful body. x
Oh, I love this, Cheryl! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and also for the word "flobbitty" :) May God grant us all that same acceptance. In it with you. xo!
Needed these words like WATER. The past few months I've inexplicably started gaining weight and I am really struggling to make peace with my changing body. Yes, I need to get the medical answers to why (stupid cancer) but on the spiritual level I feel myself being asked once again to learn to love my physical body for its innate goodness, no matter what my clothes or mirror or scale say. I loved this invitation to meditate on the roundness of God!
Inviting the strength of the Feminine Spirit to live in the crevices of the ordinary and mundane… and then in Her wisdom, like your words that pour here, expand the beauty of our beloved bodies as soft, deep and encompassing tenderness… first to ourselves and then to others…
LIZ! This is gorgeous. I so appreciate the way you articulate this—softly, gently, unapologetically, slowly, with the care a mother swaddles her newborn. May I link this essay to my online collection of resources about God’s feminine nature? My friend Kim and I’ve been compiling as many different sources as I can find on the topic. I’d love to add yours! You can view it at findingmamagod.com.
Again, thank you for this. I’ll be thinking all day about your observations about soft edges. Perhaps this is why last week I picked up a beautiful curved piece of driftwood at our campsite and took it home.
Also, thank you for setting this essay in the context of the horror of the day. I was having a conversation yesterday about how Genesis was likely written during another time of horror—and how the Spirit responded by sharing images of Herself brooding and birthing new life, even in the midst of the chaos and despair of exile. It made me want to keep talking about what She is birthing right now—and how we can help midwife the process. Like Valarie Kaur teaches, now is the time to breathe and push. Your beautiful essay is just that.
Also Theology of the Womb arrived in my home yesterday. 💖
Wow - so much to love here. Your comparison of this essay to a gentle swaddle is so meaningful to me. I've been writing it so slowly, since April, and have written and cut nearly 76000 additional words. Thank you for your thoughtful and kind words!
I'd be honored to have this essay added to the resources at Finding Mama God.
And yes, now is the time to breathe and push. Life cannot remain in darkness. We are birthing a new world of light in this present moment. (let's talk Theology of the Womb soon, xo!)
Liz, this is breathtaking! This is changing the way I see myself and God. Thank you friend. Just so stunning.
Thank you, Krista. That means so much!
😭 I love this so much
Thank you, Amy! I've been reading your book Broken Waters this past week, and it has been deeply moving. I am so glad these words met you as yours have met me.
😭😭😭 yes!!
Grateful this essay appeared in my feed this morning. Thank you ❤️
I'm so glad they found you! Thanks for sharing!
Loooove this.
Thanks so much, Liv!
As a fellow perimenopausal woman, thank you!
Thank you for reminding me that the belly and flobbitty arms are still in the image of God and show us something of God. A soft curvy God in a world of hard edges, what a beautiful picture you have painted.
May God grant you acceptance of your beautiful body. x
Oh, I love this, Cheryl! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and also for the word "flobbitty" :) May God grant us all that same acceptance. In it with you. xo!
Thank you for this!
xo!
This is beautiful! Thank you.
So glad these words resonated!
Thank you for this, just thank you ❤️
You are so very welcome. I'm so grateful these words met you.
Really beautiful. Keep writing ☺️
Thank you!! (What an honor receiving this comment from a writer I admire so much!)
Beautiful.
Thank you ❤️❤️❤️
Stunning, brought me to tears.
I’m so glad these words met you. Thanks for your kind comment ❤️.
Tearing up as I sit in my garden contemplating this very thing!! How beautiful.
What a lovely setting for these thoughts! May the softness of God find you there!
This is the sigh of relief we all needed! I'm adding a soft belly to my ever-changing, ever-evolving mental picture of God.
Aww, I love this so much!
Needed these words like WATER. The past few months I've inexplicably started gaining weight and I am really struggling to make peace with my changing body. Yes, I need to get the medical answers to why (stupid cancer) but on the spiritual level I feel myself being asked once again to learn to love my physical body for its innate goodness, no matter what my clothes or mirror or scale say. I loved this invitation to meditate on the roundness of God!
Oh, Laura - "to love my physical body for its innate goodness" - the simplest ask that's the most difficult to do! In it with you!
Inviting the strength of the Feminine Spirit to live in the crevices of the ordinary and mundane… and then in Her wisdom, like your words that pour here, expand the beauty of our beloved bodies as soft, deep and encompassing tenderness… first to ourselves and then to others…
Yes! The outflowing of compassion that can happen when we practice self-compassion and acceptance, stemming from the love of God. Love this!
LIZ! This is gorgeous. I so appreciate the way you articulate this—softly, gently, unapologetically, slowly, with the care a mother swaddles her newborn. May I link this essay to my online collection of resources about God’s feminine nature? My friend Kim and I’ve been compiling as many different sources as I can find on the topic. I’d love to add yours! You can view it at findingmamagod.com.
Again, thank you for this. I’ll be thinking all day about your observations about soft edges. Perhaps this is why last week I picked up a beautiful curved piece of driftwood at our campsite and took it home.
Also, thank you for setting this essay in the context of the horror of the day. I was having a conversation yesterday about how Genesis was likely written during another time of horror—and how the Spirit responded by sharing images of Herself brooding and birthing new life, even in the midst of the chaos and despair of exile. It made me want to keep talking about what She is birthing right now—and how we can help midwife the process. Like Valarie Kaur teaches, now is the time to breathe and push. Your beautiful essay is just that.
Also Theology of the Womb arrived in my home yesterday. 💖
Wow - so much to love here. Your comparison of this essay to a gentle swaddle is so meaningful to me. I've been writing it so slowly, since April, and have written and cut nearly 76000 additional words. Thank you for your thoughtful and kind words!
I'd be honored to have this essay added to the resources at Finding Mama God.
And yes, now is the time to breathe and push. Life cannot remain in darkness. We are birthing a new world of light in this present moment. (let's talk Theology of the Womb soon, xo!)
You’re ON! I look forward to the discussion on TotW and much more.
How lovely to hear of the tender way you’ve been nurturing this essay into being—not at all surprising, giving its effect on me.
🕊️