My Mom Hates Her Body, Surprise Baby Shame, & Jesus as Bridegroom Feels Wrong | ACW377
Ask Christopher West
Theology of the Body Institute
4.9 • 549 Ratings
🗓️ 23 March 2026
⏱️ 56 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Questions answered this episode:
- Growing up, my mom has always talked poorly about her body. As a kid, I remember her asking my dad if other women were attractive and making demeaning comments about women who weighed more than her. Now I’m engaged, and as she chooses a dress, she keeps saying she’ll lose 10 pounds and worries because my future mother-in-law is thinner. She didn’t have parents who delighted in her and often seeks reassurance from us. Should I keep saying, “You’re beautiful,” or is there something better I could say?
- My wife and I just found out we’re pregnant with our third baby—only four months after our second—and we’re only 25. We’ve worked with NFP coaches and followed different methods, yet here we are. We would have chosen abstinence if we knew it wouldn’t work, but it’s too late now. I feel anxious and ashamed, like I didn’t sacrifice enough. People around us don’t understand this lifestyle, and I feel tempted to hide the pregnancy. How do I talk to others about this, and how do I embrace this child with love?
- I struggle with the idea of Jesus as the bridegroom. I’ve heard you talk about it, but I still don’t understand. In one episode, a woman in abusive marriages longed for Jesus instead, and you said she could offer her suffering for others. I don’t know her situation, but the Church teaches against divorce, so how does that fit? Isn’t marriage about leading your spouse to heaven? I also struggle with the idea of not being married in heaven. I don’t want to offend God—I just don’t understand.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | From the Theology of the Body Institute, this is The Ask Christopher West Podcast. |
| 0:19.1 | Well, hey listeners to the Ask Christopher West podcast. |
| 0:22.7 | Yes, hi, podcast listeners. |
| 0:24.4 | This is Christopher West. |
| 0:25.9 | This is Wendy West hosting this event today. |
| 0:28.9 | She's the host. I think I've said this before. |
| 0:33.1 | People maybe come to the podcast because they know of my work, but they stay listeners because of you, |
| 0:41.0 | my wife, Wendy, and the gift that you bring. I'm so grateful to you, Wendy. |
| 0:45.8 | It is special to be with you. |
| 0:48.3 | We are so blessed that we get to do this together. |
| 0:53.2 | Yeah. |
| 0:53.5 | I always learn things from you. Yeah, blesses me. |
| 0:56.8 | You learn from things from you too? From you. I want to give a special shout out to everybody |
| 1:05.8 | who came on the ski retreat. You guys, you listeners, you've been hearing me promoting this for weeks, and it happened, |
| 1:14.5 | and it was beautiful. |
| 1:17.4 | It was such a blessing to my heart. |
| 1:20.4 | I cannot tell you. |
| 1:22.9 | Skiing, I, what is it, Wendy, you know me sometimes better than I know myself. |
| 1:27.5 | What is it that skiing does for me? |
| 1:30.0 | That is, yeah, you are so filled and uplifted by the experience of beautiful skiing. |
| 1:39.4 | Yeah, beautiful skiing. |
| 1:40.8 | And that means sunny days and not too cold and good snow and that's exactly what |
... |
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