The Body, Beauty, and Bravery Project (Paperback)

This interactive journal creates a space for Christian women to discuss and react around the issue of body image. In church and in relationships with other Christians we learn more about God and how to be like Him. However, the subject of body image rarely comes up, except to complain about ourselves in some way. There is a Biblical value declaring what our attitudes should be concerning our physical beings, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made, …I know that full well” (Psalm 139:14). If you’ve picked up this book, maybe you’re already curious about how all this negative language affects you and others around you. Perhaps the Spirit is already developing an awareness of the fact that something’s wrong. Where did this language come from? How is it a part of Christian culture? Here’s a personal question for you: Could body shaming be holding you back spiritually, from fully embracing the love and complete acceptance that God has for you? This five- week journey is comprised of a weekly story (body), a Bible verse to memorize and meditate upon (beauty), and the opportunity to practice a positive body image in your daily life (bravery). This experience is designed to empower you, challenge you, and leave you in a more powerful place.

The Body, Beauty, and Bravery Project was started in 2007. Alison Cross, a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Georgia since 2001, is a working Mom who specializes in helping those with eating disorders and body image issues. She noticed problems outside of work though. Is it a common and appropriate lifestyle choice for women to deprive and hate their bodies? Dieting and a negative body image are gateway behaviors to developing obsessions that could lead to having an eating disorder. In the interest of prevention and awareness, a workshop was born. It didn't stop there though! God had other plans in mind. Today, many people have had the opportunity to listen to Alison speak in a workshop, seminar, retreat, or day camp to learn about loving their bodies. Alison is also a parent to 4 girls, which involves tons of strategy. Girls are emotional creatures growing up in a culture that values their looks more than anything. How do parents pass on the importance of having a good body image if they don't know why this is important? Or if they don't have a good body image themselves? How in the world do parents navigate these waters without clarity and truth? There's so much confusion about health and nutrition out there, usually because someone is trying to sell a product or idea that will make them millions. Alison is motivated by truth backed up by Biblical Principles. This doesn't involve judging others by their body size or following the current diet/lifestyle plan. When she's not helping people recover from eating disorders, and teaching all kinds of audiences how to love their bodies, Alison lives at peace in her own skin near Atlanta, Ga. Her home is near both Covenant College and Richmont Graduate University where God taught her so much about His love for His people. When she's not spending time running her kids around to activities, keeping up with her private practice at the Atlanta Counseling Center, she's found wandering her neighborhood with her Husband and dog, processing the challenges of the day and loving the nature and beauty of Georgia.