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if you've got it...
...flaunt it. my dad used to say.
growing up my dad (and mom) used to always brag about how good looking we were, about what great leaders we were, about many things i have since come to question. later in life i would look in the mirror and hear those words again echo in my mind, "if you've got it, flaunt it". i guess i must be good looking, i would think, after all, i've got to flaunt it.

i have since come to recognize that i may not win any beauty contests; that there may not be such a striking resemblance to brad pitt as i had imagined. and let's be honest, the older i get the less that beauty win is likely to come my way. i have hair in places no one was ever meant to have hair (and no hair in places i should). somehow my follicles are migrating without my permission. there is no six-pack, no huge shoulders or small nose. now that i am over 40 i'm pretty sure i should never take off my shirt in public again.

my dad is now a qualified senior citizen, and at the risk of immodesty, less likely to win a beauty contest than i am. but you would never know that to talk to him. he still stands in front of the mirror and winks at himself. he still prays for humility then thanks god that he has it. he still styles for us and says, "if you've got it, flaunt it!" i love that about him.

there is a lesson there. in spite of how the world views him my dad continues to give the ladies what they want. he's still a player. and in a couple of weeks when they come to visit my father will be telling my sons, "if you've got it, flaunt it!" he will tell them they are uber studs until they believe him. damn the world's opinions, my dad's opinion means alot to my boys. and they will feel valued and loved, secure and beautiful. and they are.

it is so easy for me, and probably for you, to be hard on myself. it's easy to squint in the mirror and find my own faults. feeling ugly is a natural thing. if you don't believe me, stand in front of the mirror naked for a few moments. or blog naked... yes it's happening as we speak. in fact my son just walked out and said, "that's disgusting... and kind of arousing." i worry about him. now that you have that visual image in your minds, let us proceed.

i heard an old preacher on the radio yesterday say, "the greatest thing about heaven is that when i get there everyone will love me." that is an awesome understanding of love. people in this place will mock us out, call us ugly, belittle our intentions and our weaknesses but someday we will realize that, "if you've got it, flaunt it".

go ahead...