Bethany Hamilton on Body Image: ‘God Has Created Us Uniquely Beautiful’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Bethany Hamilton is sharing an important lesson about self-acceptance in a new Instagram post.
“Like many teens, I too struggled with the way I viewed my body,” she wrote. “I’d look at everyone else and think that I looked pretty different, especially because of my arm. And maybe even still to this day at times.”
Hamilton, the inspiration behind Movieguide®-Award winner SOUL SURFER, said the births of her four children have “challenged” how she sees herself.
“I think there is a huge emphasis on ‘getting back to normal/pre-pregnancy look’ immediately after your child is brought into the world,” the surfer wrote. “I think it’s bizarre and just wrong! And puts a completely unrealistic expectation on the healing process after birth and an unhealthy focus.”
She encouraged fellow mothers to “be gracious…nourish yourself and allow yourself time to heal,” adding, “Recognize that God formed your child from inside the womb and will also continue to mold and shape you into the mother you need to be for them.”
“My encouragement to you is to be grateful for what you’ve got, celebrate the gifts you have and take care of yourself so that you can care for others too!” Hamilton continued. “Life is so much more than our ‘looks’ it’s about how we love and give and how we receive right!”
She then shared a scripture that encourages her in low moments: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
“God has created us uniquely beautiful and YOU ARE LOVED!” Hamilton concluded.
Hamilton welcomed her fourth child, a daughter named Alaya, earlier this summer.
“We are feeling really grateful to God for the blessing of family,” she wrote in a social media post announcing the birth. “We are honored for this opportunity to raise our children, to love, serve, protect and guide them through life!”
The surfer spoke further about the importance of family in her life in a post to her blog.
“I do a lot of rad things, but if my family isn’t happy and they’re not content with what I’m doing, then I’m falling down on the greatest job that God has given me — to love my family,” she wrote. “I find the greatest joy with others. That reminds me to align my priorities around them.”
Movieguide® previously reported on how Hamilton deals with fear:
Pro surfer Bethany Hamilton recently talked faith, success, the sacrifice and reward of parenting and letting go of fear on Sadie Robertson Huff’s “WHOA That’s Good” podcast.
Huff touched on how Hamilton, a mother of four and shark-attack survivor, has conquered many fears throughout her life.
“[Fears] can blind you or stop you in your place or hold you back from just pursuing the good and beautiful things in life,” Hamilton said.
The surfer continued, “A lot of times our fears are just things built up in our heads. They’re not necessarily truth.”
“To me, it’s like, first, look to God and see what he says; second, pray; talk to a friend,” Hamilton said. “Just don’t hold it all inside because I think when we hold it inside, we end up [with] this mental block.”
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