True Beauty

I have a confession to make. Don't act surprised. I know you have done the sane thing. I fell for the “look younger and lose fifty pounds overnight” ads on late night television, Ladies, if these products delivered what the ads claim, we would never look our age or let that last brownie settle on our hips.

Well, I did some math and according to my calculations, I could look like I did in high school. OK maybe an older college graduate.

This is fabulous, I thought to myself as I planned how many years how many pounds I wanted to drop. I began to fantasize about all the fun I could have and how wonderful I would look.

I ordered the miracle potions and waited impatiently for them to arrive. Finally, the magical day arrived when this wonderful package came in the mail. Now to begin my wonderful transformation! I eagerly swallowed the weight loss pill and could almost feel the weight melting off. While the weight fell off I lathered the miraculous cream all over my body. I could hardly wait until the next morning when I just knew I would be a magnificent creature. I went to bed with wonderful visions in my head.

Well, the next morning I was a creature all right. But I wouldn't call it magnificent. My face was swollen and had a hideous itchy rash. I looked more like a monster from some low budget horror movie than the beautiful butterfly I had envisioned.

At least my family got a good laugh when they saw my red blotchy face and my husband did ask if I felt like grocery shopping today and running a few errands for him. I will not tell you what I said but let's just say, he did not ask me to do anything else. I did manage to drive myself to the doctor. After a gasp-either fear or not so successful attempt to stifle a laugh, he looked at the bottle I held in my hand and after reading the ingredients he informed me I was suffering an allergic reaction to the oils in the concoction. He prescribed a cream to use on my face and a pill for the swelling. So now, I was still taking a pill to help me lose weight and a cream to erase flaws in my skin. However, this time I just wanted to return to my “old average looking me.”

I did not want to show mu face in public until I returned to normal so I had plenty of time to meditate and think about my situation. One day while I was having my devotional and “ God time”, I read what Peter had to say about beauty. Beauty comes from character. It does not depend on outward ornaments or flash jewelry but inner beauty that is seen in love, kindness, compassion and a gentle spirit. Wow! What an eye opener that was. I then realized that I had been racing against the clock and calendar trying to outrun wrinkles, middle age spread and gray hair. I had forgotten that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. God created us in His image. Other people might see our imperfections and think less of us but when God looks at us us He sees us through the blood of His son and sees the perfection that only His love can bring. If we focus on His love for us instead of our reflections in the mirror we can smile and put beauty in its proper perspective.

We have all heard the expression, “beauty is only skin deep but ugly goes all the way to the bone.” That is true. When you have a beautiful face but a cold and uncaring heart, it is reflected in your face and makes you ugly. Likewise, when your face is not as beautiful as you would like and you have a loving and caring heart, that is reflected in your face and makes you glow with beauty. True beauty of a woman can be found in her heart.

I have found that times I spend with my Father make me glow from the inside. This inner beauty will last long after my outward beauty has faded. This really makes me feel better. I am glad that these itchy blotches won't last forever but that as long as I live I am beautiful in my Father's eyes. I know He loves me no matter what I look like. He made me the way I am and I am made in His image. In Proverbs we read that “Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting but a woman who fears God will be praised.
I have decided that instead of looking to a miracle pill or wonder lotion, I will bask in God's beauty treatment of confession, repentance and the warmth of His love. I will relax in the rejuvenating messages of His word.

Whenever I look at my reflection in the mirror and see my gray hair and wrinkles, I will know that these are visible signs of my human frailties and reminders to depend on Him instead of the world's idea of perfection.

Today's Whisper:

Have you fallen into the trap of society's idea of beauty? Remember, God made you in His image.

Rejoice and thank Him for making you unique and set apart from every other woman in this world. Remember, beauty is fleeting but God's love in your heart will make your inner beauty shine for all the world to see.

Today's Prayer:

Father, I thank you for making me unique. I know you made us in your image and created us to be beautiful in your eyes. I thank you that you do not look on outward beauty but look at the inner beauty that your love brings. I praise you and love you.