Do You Think I’m Beautiful?
Everyone knows that the unspoken rule is to never ask a lady her age. I don’t mind telling you that I am 41 years old. I have paid my dues to get to adulthood! I remember my younger days and how important it was to fit in with the crowd. If you wanted to be part of the “cool” group you had to wear certain brands of clothes and wear your hair just right. But thankfully I survived middle school and high school with my self confidence still intact.
Recently on Facebook I saw a contest for the Most Beautiful Teen. My understanding is that it is an online beauty pageant where other Facebookers, both friends and strangers, can vote on who they think is the most beautiful, having only one picture to judge by. Needless to say, one of my daughter’s friends entered the contest and my, oh, my. Let’s just say that not everyone on Face Book is a nice person! The derogatory remarks and cut downs they posted for this poor child to see were horrible! And just to clarify, this young lady is not ugly by any means. She entered this contest with the hopes of having someone, anyone, tell her she is beautiful. She, like so many others, is basing her confidence in herself on someone else’s opinion of her.
I am so thankful that I am beyond that and I no longer care what others think about me! Yeah, right! Lol. Last week we had some people at our house giving us an estimate for some work to be done. As we were doing a walk-through of the house, the lady asked me when my baby was due! (I’m not pregnant!) Granted, I had sweat pants and a baggy t-shirt on, so it was an honest mistake. Nevertheless, my feelings were hurt and I started looking at myself in a different light. Yes, I am a little heavier than I would like to be. It’s true that I have traded in stylish clothes for comfortable ones. No, my hair has not been professionally styled in, well, quite a while! But I was OK with all of this until that one little innocent remark!
I fretted about this for a couple of days. I used to wear high heels and make up. I would have my nails done every six weeks and my hair was styled and highlighted with the latest trend. I sulked and pouted about how much I have let myself go. There are many days that I don’t even get out of my pajamas. My days are spent caring for my very special son, but even that makes me feel less of a person at times. I often remind myself that God has given me this rewarding position because He loves me and is preparing me for something better. Even my husband’s assurances that he still thought I was beautiful did little to soothe my bruised ego. And then my Heavenly Father gently reminded me that I am the way I am because that is the way He created me, and He loves me just the way I am! No matter how many shortcomings I may have, His love for me is always there. I don’t have to be a size 5 and wear designer clothes to impress Him. He loves me on those days that I don’t have time to brush my hair, let alone get all dolled up! As long as I am on His team, I am going to be just fine!
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:37-39
Copyright © Robin Pack, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved
Robin,
I loved your column this week! I wish every girl and her mother/guardian from kindergarten through college had the opportunity to read your post. Girls’ minds are being bombarded with lies from the enemy as to what beauty is. Think of all the hurts and scars that never will be or would have been caused if all girls and women would believe and hold on to God’s truth, that we are His creation, and His love for us is immeasurable. Our identity is in Christ and not the size we wear! Oh, by the way, you’re BEAUTIFUL, inside and out:)
Wow, this is me. I can’t begin to tell you how God used this devotion to keep speaking to me about being ok with how he made me and what I am doing/not doing with my life. It is a very long story, but I am trying to get my head straight- thank you for sharing!