Let's Get Real: About Beauty

Some days the mirror doesn't seem kind. Because my cold/infection forced me to stay home for a week, I wasn't exactly making myself "presentable." My pets don't seem to care WHAT I look like~they just want food and attention. My husband has been traveling a ton for work so I've only seen him about 20 hours and he doesn't mind when I pop out my contacts and put my glasses on. (The picture above was taken several years ago up in Vancouver, B.C.~ I always feel my prettiest when I get to wear a dress and go out with my amazing husband on a date.)

Around the house I don't always look "selfie ready." I shocked myself when my youngest daughter "Face Timed" me the other morning and I saw myself (through her eyes.) I was not pleased...

I've been sick but I admit, most days I devote time in the bathroom trying to style my hair and put make-up on. I also realize I spend TOO much time worrying how I appear to others and yet... I want to make myself "presentable." 

There is a battle going on in my mind; culture and magazine ideals vs. God and what matters. Our church is currently doing a sermon series about Spiritual Warfare. It seems fitting that I listened to it as I thought of how the deceiver attempts to convince me that I'm not pretty enough (or smart enough or creative enough, etc.) 

I love beauty products. I love Ulta and Sephora and make-up and magazines articles. I also LOVE GOD. This brings me back to thinking about how God sees me, my self-worth and time spent "getting myself presentable." 

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30

If you've been alive for 50 decades, like I have, you probably know that what was considered beautiful in the past might not be so popular now. Fashions, hair and make-up trends continue to evolve. Another thing to consider is where in the world we reside. In some cultures it is beautiful to be a BIG woman, in others it is beautiful to have face tattoos or huge holes in your earlobes.

I found a wonderful talk on You Tube this morning since I was home instead of at my usual Tuesday morning bible study. I hope you'll put aside 20+ minutes to listen to Rachel Hollis from "The Chic" give a talk called "What is Real Beauty?" It will be worth your time whether you're in your 20's or 80's... You can watch it while you put on your make-up and get dressed!...

As the mother of two BEAUTIFUL daughters; inside and out, my wish for them is not to obsess over their outer beauty, but to be confident in who they are as amazing young women who love the Lord. 

 

photo source:http://www.hippoquotes.com/true-lies-quotes

"But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” 1Samuel 16:7

I'm super excited to go see the new "Beauty and the Beast" movie (hopefully Sunday!) It has always been one of my favorite Disney movies, and it totally goes along with the message that I hope young women understand; beauty lies within. 

Check out the lessons learned in this "Oh my Disney" blog post. 

Today I had make-up on (I worked this afternoon.) Tomorrow I get my hair done (yay!) 

As you can see, the journey to "beauty" isn't always pretty...

I still care about how my outsides look but my real goal is to leave the house with enough confidence that I can focus on what really matters; loving others and sharing the good news of Jesus.

On days I'm not feeling great about the way I look, I can peek at post-surgery pics from almost two years ago when I had a Basel skin cancer spot removed from my nose and then I feel much better about myself!

How do you define beauty? Is it an image you saw once on the screen or on a magazine cover? Or is it someone you know and love because they have a wonderful heart?

Grateful for Grace and In His Grip,

xo Jane