Thank you for this beautiful and Spirit-filled piece. I’m sending it to my three daughters immediately. Your words are tender, profound, and deeply needed in a world so confused about identity and self-worth. What a powerful reminder that true self-love begins not in the mirror, but in the presence of our Maker.
I also appreciate your careful handling of 2 Timothy 3:2. I’ve always found it significant that “lovers of self” is listed first among the sinful traits—it's often the starting point for so many other forms of rebellion. When love turns inward and God is pushed aside, disorder follows. But when love flows from Him, it brings wholeness. Grateful for your voice and this timely word.
It means a lot to know this piece spoke to you—and that you’re sharing it with your daughters. That’s truly humbling.
I really agree with what you said about “lovers of self” in 2 Timothy. I think there’s a huge difference between the kind of self-obsession Scripture warns about and the sacred, surrendered kind of love that flows from knowing we’re made in God’s image. When love turns inward without Him, it distorts. But when it starts with Him, it restores.
Augustine's teachings on disordered love is a great framework to reflect on this, I think.
He says that sin often emerge from loving lesser things more than we ought to, while loving important things less than we ought to.
When we love ourselves more than we love God and our neighbours, and neglect our responsibility to love them in order to pursue our own ambitions, that's when "self-love" becomes sinful egotism.
I took a lot from this. We are all on our own journey but being able to identify where our support comes from and welcome it, is a challenge to embrace.
Your words mean more than I can say. It’s deeply humbling to know the piece helped bring some clarity—what a sacred thing to be part of someone’s unfolding. Thank you for taking the time to share this with me. I’ll carry it with me as I keep writing. Grateful for your encouragement.
Mandie, I just happened upon your profile because you popped up on my feed. I love the way you write, and I totally agree on your perspective of self-love.
I grew up in a culture that said it was pride to think anything of yourself. But in my adult years, I’ve been able to look at myself and love what I see not because of anything I’ve done, but because I know that I was created by God because he wanted a person like me in this world, and he wanted that person to be his own daughter.
Thank you so much for sharing this. I’d love to subscribe and continue to read what you’re writing!
I’m so glad you found your way here—and I’m incredibly moved by what you shared. That shift you described, from shame to seeing yourself through God’s love, is such a beautiful and sacred transformation. Not because of what we’ve done, like you said, but simply because He wanted us.
You put it so powerfully: He created you on purpose, to be His daughter. Thank you for your kind words and for being here. I’d be honored to have you as a reader.
Sometimes, people swing between extremes too much. Don't love yourself? That means we must hate ourselves. Don't be puffed up? Then tear yourselves down.
Yet, the Bible affirms that God made mankind in His image, and that He saw that what He made was "very good." This fact doesn't entitle us to feel superior over other people (as they are also divine image bearers like we are), or be callous towards our environment (which God also declared "good", and continued to sustain with love and care), but it should give us pause before we indulge in self-condemning thoughts.
Are we such exceptional sinners and/or failures that we, out of all people, are exempt from God's promises?
If we love God, we love whom He loves. Amazingly, that includes you and me. Not because we've earned it. But because He's that gracious.
Thank you, V.E.—this is so thoughtfully expressed. I really appreciate how you named the extremes we so often fall into: either puffing ourselves up or tearing ourselves down. But God’s grace calls us into something truer and more rooted.
Sin is serious—but it never erased our identity as someone made and loved by God. We are not our sin. And His love isn’t held hostage by our flaws.
We are not bad.
We are not unlovable.
We are beloved—and that’s the whole reason grace exists.
You captured that tension so well. I’m really grateful for your words and your presence here.
Yes—that second half is so easy to overlook, but it holds so much weight. We often forget that loving others begins with how we see ourselves through God’s eyes.
Thank you for reading so thoughtfully and for seeing the heart of it. I’m really grateful.
You articulated something that I hadn't thought about in a long time. I started out my walk with God with no love for myself. I learned that God chose me to be his daughter, that I was the apple of his eye. That holy love nurtured me. Thank you for writing so well.
Mandy,
Thank you for this beautiful and Spirit-filled piece. I’m sending it to my three daughters immediately. Your words are tender, profound, and deeply needed in a world so confused about identity and self-worth. What a powerful reminder that true self-love begins not in the mirror, but in the presence of our Maker.
I also appreciate your careful handling of 2 Timothy 3:2. I’ve always found it significant that “lovers of self” is listed first among the sinful traits—it's often the starting point for so many other forms of rebellion. When love turns inward and God is pushed aside, disorder follows. But when love flows from Him, it brings wholeness. Grateful for your voice and this timely word.
It means a lot to know this piece spoke to you—and that you’re sharing it with your daughters. That’s truly humbling.
I really agree with what you said about “lovers of self” in 2 Timothy. I think there’s a huge difference between the kind of self-obsession Scripture warns about and the sacred, surrendered kind of love that flows from knowing we’re made in God’s image. When love turns inward without Him, it distorts. But when it starts with Him, it restores.
Grateful for your encouragement.
Augustine's teachings on disordered love is a great framework to reflect on this, I think.
He says that sin often emerge from loving lesser things more than we ought to, while loving important things less than we ought to.
When we love ourselves more than we love God and our neighbours, and neglect our responsibility to love them in order to pursue our own ambitions, that's when "self-love" becomes sinful egotism.
Mandy! Thank you for this. Absolutely beautiful piece
I took a lot from this. We are all on our own journey but being able to identify where our support comes from and welcome it, is a challenge to embrace.
Thanks Mandy.
Mandy
Your post honestly spoke to my heart. You gave me clarity on my own perception of self love.
Thank you opening eyes.
Keep going.
JP
Your words mean more than I can say. It’s deeply humbling to know the piece helped bring some clarity—what a sacred thing to be part of someone’s unfolding. Thank you for taking the time to share this with me. I’ll carry it with me as I keep writing. Grateful for your encouragement.
Mandie, I just happened upon your profile because you popped up on my feed. I love the way you write, and I totally agree on your perspective of self-love.
I grew up in a culture that said it was pride to think anything of yourself. But in my adult years, I’ve been able to look at myself and love what I see not because of anything I’ve done, but because I know that I was created by God because he wanted a person like me in this world, and he wanted that person to be his own daughter.
Thank you so much for sharing this. I’d love to subscribe and continue to read what you’re writing!
I’m so glad you found your way here—and I’m incredibly moved by what you shared. That shift you described, from shame to seeing yourself through God’s love, is such a beautiful and sacred transformation. Not because of what we’ve done, like you said, but simply because He wanted us.
You put it so powerfully: He created you on purpose, to be His daughter. Thank you for your kind words and for being here. I’d be honored to have you as a reader.
Sometimes, people swing between extremes too much. Don't love yourself? That means we must hate ourselves. Don't be puffed up? Then tear yourselves down.
Yet, the Bible affirms that God made mankind in His image, and that He saw that what He made was "very good." This fact doesn't entitle us to feel superior over other people (as they are also divine image bearers like we are), or be callous towards our environment (which God also declared "good", and continued to sustain with love and care), but it should give us pause before we indulge in self-condemning thoughts.
Are we such exceptional sinners and/or failures that we, out of all people, are exempt from God's promises?
If we love God, we love whom He loves. Amazingly, that includes you and me. Not because we've earned it. But because He's that gracious.
Thank you, V.E.—this is so thoughtfully expressed. I really appreciate how you named the extremes we so often fall into: either puffing ourselves up or tearing ourselves down. But God’s grace calls us into something truer and more rooted.
Sin is serious—but it never erased our identity as someone made and loved by God. We are not our sin. And His love isn’t held hostage by our flaws.
We are not bad.
We are not unlovable.
We are beloved—and that’s the whole reason grace exists.
You captured that tension so well. I’m really grateful for your words and your presence here.
Love your neighbor as you love yourself.
It’s the second half that gets me. We forget that loving others starts there.
Grateful that you brought this to light, Mandy. You're spotlighting a familiar phrase in a needed way. Thank you.
Yes—that second half is so easy to overlook, but it holds so much weight. We often forget that loving others begins with how we see ourselves through God’s eyes.
Thank you for reading so thoughtfully and for seeing the heart of it. I’m really grateful.
This is so true.
You articulated something that I hadn't thought about in a long time. I started out my walk with God with no love for myself. I learned that God chose me to be his daughter, that I was the apple of his eye. That holy love nurtured me. Thank you for writing so well.
That holy love does nurture us, and I’m so glad it reached you in that place. Grateful to walk alongside you in this.