Self Worth

My husband asked me recently if there’s anything I’ve learned since being pregnant for the first time. Thinking of my chronic morning sickness and food aversions, I said, “Yeah, I’ve learned that being a parent starts from the moment you find out you’re pregnant. I’m already sacrificing for this child, and he’s not even breathing yet!” Later on, I was driving by myself, thinking, and praying. I was pondering the question my husband asked and considering my answer again. I realized something: Jesus sacrificed so much more for me—before I was even born—so that I could truly live. You see, He came to earth and lived a perfect life, never sinning once. Jesus was able to do so because He was both

I found myself blankly staring out the window while having a silent but very serious debate in my head: “Hmmm, I have a two-hour opening until my next client. What shall I do?” I started to list all the things I could get done, but I quickly narrowed it down to the most pressing issue at hand: “I need to wash my hair; it’s really gross, and this messy bun I’m rockin’ is giving me a headache… but I’m not in the mood to put in the effort of washing and taming the beastly mane today…” Listen, this is an intense debate I often have. I like to do other people’s hair, but I run out of the energy it requires to

Most women I know wear their heart on their sleeves and tell a story with her eyes. Let me tell ya, in my experience as a “Thairapist,” I’ve learned to recognize when something is going on, sometimes within seconds of a client walking through the door. For instance, one of my clients blew in the door of my salon with a little more huff and sass than usual, so I just got right to the point and asked, “Hey girl, what’s got you so riled up today?” She plopped her purse down, threw her phone and keys in it, then turned to me with a hand on her hip and fire in her eyes, and announced, “I’m grumpy Jodi, that’s how I’m

“You are altogether beautiful, my darling; beautiful in every way.” (Song of Solomon 4:7) Rarely have I been so stunned I forgot to breathe. It was another day, another walk, a part of the daily routine. I was bundled up and bounding down the front porch steps, mentally running through my to-do list. Reaching the sidewalk, I paused, looked up, and realized this was no ordinary day. During the night, a white blanket had quietly covered the earth. Now, the rising sun revealed a sky colored with muted shades of blue and pink and snow that sparkled like glitter from my children’s long-forgotten art projects. I Don’t Feel Worthy… It was magical; exquisite, really. Exquisite isn’t a word I use often; in

When I was a little girl, I remember sitting in the car as my dad drove us to the San Francisco Bay Area. Although I can’t remember why we were going, or if all of my family was together for the ride, one thing sticks out quite vividly. As we drove past a hill, I looked out the window and saw a herd of cattle. I asked my dad why the cows didn’t fall off the hill, and he replied, “They’re surefooted.” I didn’t realize how impactful that particular word would be throughout my adult years, or how many times it would come back up for me. But in that moment, my dad imparted a word in my spirit that would be