Perfectly Unique
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Do you have insecurities about your body? If you answered “no,” you’re in the minority among American women. If you answered “yes,” you’ll probably want to read Annie Downs’ book, Perfectly Unique. Not content with talking about areas of insecurity and trying to make us feel better about our bodies, Annie goes straight for the heart: how can I glorify God with my whole body? I love the subtitle, “praising God from head to feet,” because that’s exactly what she does. She writes in a chatty style that makes you feel like you’re having coffee with a good friend, but she doesn’t pull any punches. In her no-nonsense way, she cuts through the lies of our culture and points us back to Jesus.
One thing I really appreciate is the way Annie consistently shows us the purposes our bodies were created for, and how we can please God by using them in godly ways. For example, she spends quite a bit of time on the tongue — a body part we might not think of too often, but one capable of wreaking havoc or spreading blessings.
There are a few study questions at the end of each chapter, plus some fun recipes at the end of the book. I think this would be a great book to read and discuss as a group, with your sisters, or even with your mom. Or just read it alone…you’ll feel like Annie is sitting right there!
What’s something about your body for which you are thankful? Leave a comment and share. Let’s start thinking positively about the wonderful gift God has given us!
im thankful for my curly hair and the fact that im tall (5’9″) which I used to be so shy of; I would never wear heels. now I love them even though it makes me a bit taller than my hubby:)
This looks like a wonderful read! I’m so grateful for hazel eyes that allow me to soak up the beauty of my Father’s world. I’m also thankful for strong hands that help me serve my family and praise the Lord through playing the piano.
I am thankful for all of my body!
I’m thankful for my eyes with which I can take in God’s wonderful creation!
I’m thankful for arms to snuggle my little girl.
I am thankful for my eyes. I can’t imagine not seeing God’s beauty around us!
I am thankful for the eyes to see the beauty the Lord has given us! 馃檪
Many times I am not thankful for this body… this body with its digestive issues, food intolerances, scoliosis… but I am learning to rejoice in other things — in green eyes and their vision to see the beauty God creates, in fingers that are somehow wonderfully able to convey emotion in piano music. When I get frustrated about the other things, I try to remember that “He makes everything beautiful in its time” and each part of me is for a reason.
I am vey thankful for my arms I know it may sound clique but they give me the ability to hug my husband and feel loved after a long hard day.
I am thank-ful for my voice so that I can sing praises to my God! I love to sing! 馃檪
I am thankful that though I have a small frame, I have enough energy to live day to day!
I am thankful for my hair! The last couple of years that has been my favorite feature of myself, if my hair looks good then I’m good 馃檪 Really, I am trying to be content with all features of my body, I feel this book would be a great one for my friend and I to go through together!
I am thankful for my long, thick mane of hair-like Amy said of Jo it is my “one beauty.” I also love that I have blue eyes.
After a life time of health challenges I am so grateful I can feel, see, taste and smell and swallow and breath on my own. This book sounds like a fun read, thank you for your gernerousity.
I’m thankful that I’m tall….and so much more. Even with many health challenges, I have so much to be thankful for.
I am thankful for my hands that allow me to make gifts to bless others!
Oh, I’ve been wanting to read this book! I’m hoping this is still open, and it didn’t really end on March 5th…? 馃檪
I’m thankful for so many things….I guess I’ll go with my ears. I have 2 deaf siblings, so I receive daily reminders of what a blessing it is to be able to hear and speak normally.
Leah, that should have read :April: 5th, not March 5th! I’ve fixed it now.
I’m thankful for my smile and for lungs that allow me to continue living.
Looks like a great book! I am incredibly thankful for a healthy body that does more then I could ever have imagined several years ago.
I’m grateful for my tummy, because even though it’s swishy and lined with a scar and stretch marks, it reminds me that God gave me the ability to birth two babies and made me a mommy!
I am thankful for my feet, which are far from perfect in man’s eyes, but allow me to walk and run. Because of birth defects doctors were not sure I would ever be able to do either. God had other ideas though. 馃檪 I also thank Him for my ears, with which I am to hear children’s laughter, birds singing, and music.
I am thankful for my hands. I can help others with them (in college to become a nurse) and also bless them with music (I play the violin).
I’m thankful for strong hands that I can use to help other people. Thanks for this giveaway! I’m interested in counseling young women who struggle with issues like their imperfect bodies and I’m sure this would be a great book to add to my arsenal. 馃檪
I am thankful to be healthy and strong. I really have a lot to be thankful for.
I’m thankful for my height (I’m 6 feet tall). A lot of people expect me to hate being tall, but that’s the way the Lord made me and I love it! It is also very handy to be able to reach things for people 馃檪
This sounds like a great book for girls of all ages to read!
I’m thankful for a body that recovers from illness quickly.
Oh, I’d love to read this with my sister!
I’m thankful that God made me perfectly just the way He intended. I’m thankful for strong legs that can do more than I ever anticipated 馃檪 Just curious, is the drawing on April 5th? 馃檪
Thanks for bringing that to our attention, Samantha! I believe you are correct. =) I have fixed it.
I thought that is what you meant but just wanted to make sure the drawing wasn’t already over =)
After spending 5 weeks in ICU and another 3 weeks in a nursing home after complications from a surgery to make me loose weight I am thankful for my body in general. I am thankful it has recovered from 3 surgeries in 4 weeks, blood clots on each lung and sepsis (poisoning of the blood). My favorite feature of my body is my smile. After everything I can still smile everyday and thank God for me still being here with my 5yr old and 2yr old little ones.
I am thankful for my eyes with which I can see my family playing and working together, and for my ears to hear the ‘I love you’s’ from them.
I love strong arms & fingers, that I use to make music on the piano!
I am thankful for a body that is strong and is/was able to to be pregnant {successfully}.
I am so very grateful for my strong legs that can carry me for miles.
Thanks for the review! I am looking for books like this to reccomend for the TS bookshop this year 馃檪
I like my blue-gray eyes and the way my arms can hold my babies, the way they can snuggle up to me and I can whisper kisses in their eyes and ears