I wish that, a few years ago, I had known the true beauty of the body and its value as a reflection of God Himself made man.
For four years, I suffered from anorexia, an eating disorder. It’s a mental illness that directly affects the person, gradually transforming them entirely, and, as a result, their body too.
As the illness progressed, I began to waste away little by little. The dissatisfaction I felt toward myself, my personality, and my body, became so intense that I needed medical, psychological, and spiritual help to face the ordeal that my family and I were living through.
That’s how four years of deep sadness, fear, despair, and agony began. Anorexia had taken over everything I saw as an “obstacle” in my path. Then came the lies, the growing distance from my family and friends, hiding food or throwing it away, exercising secretly, crying, and wishing I could disappear…
Those were years of deep pain and suffering. My one goal in life was to have the perfect body. Anything that got in the way of that goal became an obstacle to reaching what I saw as my only “worthwhile” aim in life. Among the many “obstacles” in my way were my parents and siblings, my family, the medical team, my friends, my teachers… and God.
From a young age, God had played a central role in my life and my family’s. But when the illness came, it marked a turning point in my relationship with Him. As a result of my inner suffering, I pulled away from the Lord. I couldn’t understand how a “Father” could allow so much pain. Why? Why me? Why, with everything I was going through, should I spend time with Him, praise Him, or even thank Him?
Some time passed, and I started to recover from anorexia. That healing allowed me to reconcile with God, with my family, and with myself. Thanks to medical support, my family’s love, and spiritual accompaniment, I stopped being disgusted with myself. I began to value myself and love myself beyond my appearance or clothing size. I recovered my smile, my desire to live, and I came to understand that my worth as a person and as a daughter of God has nothing to do with how my body looks.
In this process of healing, I came to recognise the love God has had for me from all eternity. Every millimetre of my body, my personality, my character, and every hair on my head is the fruit of his Love.
Thanks to the weight of the Cross and the suffering I endured, I came to know and feel God’s love, the immeasurable love of my parents, the value of friendship, and the importance of family. I am deeply grateful to God for everything I’ve lived and learned..
Main ideas
- The human person is a unity of body and soul; therefore, the body too is made in the image and likeness of God.
- When He became man, Jesus took on both body and soul. That means that there is a human body in the heart of the Most Holy Trinity. Can you imagine how valuable that is?
- Our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, because God lives in every soul in a state of grace. That’s why we have a great responsibility to care for it.
- Beauty standards and ideals change over time, but God’s authentic love for you, just as you are, remains forever.