The other day while watching television, a commercial starring Christie Brinkley came on. I have no recollection of what she was endorsing because I was too encumbered by this ageless beauty. It was astounding. I have always found Ms. Brinkley to be one my top picks when it comes to physical beauty. The amazing fact is that she is 54 years young. I have no right to make justifications about her secrets to turning back time with her appearance. It is so easy to become awestruck by different famous ones and their beauty.
I have never put myself in a class even close to Brinkley, but as I approach my 31st birthday I am reminded that beauty is fleeting. Again I am not one known for beauty, but all women feel the despondency of growing older.
The reality of raising a daughter that is not carried away by the pressures to be beautiful and thin, and perfect hit me in the face the other night. I was laying down with Maggie when she said I wish I was a real princess. As we talked I understood that her desire was to be beautiful. These are the teachable moments. I said,
"Maggie, do you know what a princess is?" She did not exactly
"A princess is the daughter of a King," said I
"Do you know who is the greatest King?" to which Maggie replied, "God"
I said a quick thank you to God (not outloud) that she answered correctly. It made my point much stronger.
My sister in law Marinda had made me a beautiful piece of artwork with Maggie's life verse on it which is hung in her room. I was able to reference back to it in our conversation. Her verse is Psalm 45:11 The King is enthralled by your beauty. Honor Him for He is your LORD.
In her precious eyes, being a real princess meant that she would have a beautiful appearance. I pray that I was able to set in her heart the Truth that God doesn't find us beautiful because of what we look like on the outside, but He looks on the inside. Are we kind? Are we giving? Are we gentle?....so on and so forth. I even used one of my mam ma's sayings: "pretty is is pretty does". If I heard that once I heard it a million times growing up. It has always stuck with me.
As women we are bombarded with ideas of how physical beauty matter more than inner beauty.
Nancy Leigh DeMoss says it best: "This deception leaves us (and our daughters) feeling unattractive, ashamed, embarrased, and hopelessly flawed."
The most physically beautiful of women will tell you at least 3 things they would like to change about themselves. Pursuing beauty and buying into the lie that beauty will bring us happiness and significance is a road that is travelled on by most women I know. Don't get me wrong I think that looking your best and taking care of your body is pleasing to God, but what is our motive. Our motive as married women should be to please God and our husband.
These Truths give me peace and fight off the temptation to believe the lies about beauty.
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised.
Proverbs 31:30
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment such as braided hair and the wearing of fine jewelry and fine clothes. Instead it should be that of your inner self. The unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. Which is of great worth in God's sight.
I Peter 3: 3-4
These truths I want to pass on to my princess, my Maggie girl. My toughest challenge will be teaching her the quiet spirit part-ha.
No really I have been blessed by many true beauties in my life. 3 Come to mind: Tommy's mom Betty, my mentor Kathy, and although I don't know her really really well I would have to say Rachel Moix's mother, Mrs Ella. All for different reasons, but they encourage me a lot. Titus says that the older women should be examples. I want to be an example of a true beauty to the younger women in my life. Only by God's grace can I honor Him with such a task.
I have never put myself in a class even close to Brinkley, but as I approach my 31st birthday I am reminded that beauty is fleeting. Again I am not one known for beauty, but all women feel the despondency of growing older.
The reality of raising a daughter that is not carried away by the pressures to be beautiful and thin, and perfect hit me in the face the other night. I was laying down with Maggie when she said I wish I was a real princess. As we talked I understood that her desire was to be beautiful. These are the teachable moments. I said,
"Maggie, do you know what a princess is?" She did not exactly
"A princess is the daughter of a King," said I
"Do you know who is the greatest King?" to which Maggie replied, "God"
I said a quick thank you to God (not outloud) that she answered correctly. It made my point much stronger.
My sister in law Marinda had made me a beautiful piece of artwork with Maggie's life verse on it which is hung in her room. I was able to reference back to it in our conversation. Her verse is Psalm 45:11 The King is enthralled by your beauty. Honor Him for He is your LORD.
In her precious eyes, being a real princess meant that she would have a beautiful appearance. I pray that I was able to set in her heart the Truth that God doesn't find us beautiful because of what we look like on the outside, but He looks on the inside. Are we kind? Are we giving? Are we gentle?....so on and so forth. I even used one of my mam ma's sayings: "pretty is is pretty does". If I heard that once I heard it a million times growing up. It has always stuck with me.
As women we are bombarded with ideas of how physical beauty matter more than inner beauty.
Nancy Leigh DeMoss says it best: "This deception leaves us (and our daughters) feeling unattractive, ashamed, embarrased, and hopelessly flawed."
The most physically beautiful of women will tell you at least 3 things they would like to change about themselves. Pursuing beauty and buying into the lie that beauty will bring us happiness and significance is a road that is travelled on by most women I know. Don't get me wrong I think that looking your best and taking care of your body is pleasing to God, but what is our motive. Our motive as married women should be to please God and our husband.
These Truths give me peace and fight off the temptation to believe the lies about beauty.
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised.
Proverbs 31:30
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment such as braided hair and the wearing of fine jewelry and fine clothes. Instead it should be that of your inner self. The unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. Which is of great worth in God's sight.
I Peter 3: 3-4
These truths I want to pass on to my princess, my Maggie girl. My toughest challenge will be teaching her the quiet spirit part-ha.
No really I have been blessed by many true beauties in my life. 3 Come to mind: Tommy's mom Betty, my mentor Kathy, and although I don't know her really really well I would have to say Rachel Moix's mother, Mrs Ella. All for different reasons, but they encourage me a lot. Titus says that the older women should be examples. I want to be an example of a true beauty to the younger women in my life. Only by God's grace can I honor Him with such a task.
1 comment:
I agree, this issue is something that most women struggle with. We have to pray for balance and ask God for wisdom.
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