Earlier this morning my mom and I attended a bible study at a halfway house. As I sat and listened to my mom speak on the story of Job I became lost in the beauty of the women sitting around me.
We were surrounded by women who have walked through things I pray I will never fully understand. They had been through abuse, addiction, the loss of children and so much more. I began think about how often I see women like them coming into my work or walking around the store and I am immediately put off by their obvious life choices. I see them, and I am disappointed in them without even knowing their name, let alone their story.
God began to stir my heart in this moment, and he asked a simple question, “Alex, what does beautiful look like to you?” I was set aback by this question because my definition of beautiful has always been Victoria Secret models or Jennifer Aniston. People have always said “well it’s what’s on the inside that counts” but lets just be honest for a second; If you were not attracted to your significant other physically, would you have pursued the relationship? If a woman with the silhouette of a gorilla and hair to match was sitting near you at a restaurant would you look at her and think, I’m going to ask that girl out or would you just continue about your day without even acknowledging the idea? Unless you’re into the Gorilla look, I’d say you would probably choose the ladder.
As women we do the same thing but from a provider aspect. Are you a real man? Will you support me? Do you understand my needs? Do you have it all together? I have this theory that if the guy doesn’t have a frame for his bed, you’re out of luck. If you can’t provide a good foundation for your bed how you will you ever provide the foundation I long for in family? I know its petty and I now use it more as a joke than anything but honestly, these are things I look for in a man.
The point is that my idea of beauty, our idea of beauty as a culture, has become primarily about the physical aspect of things. We pursue what looks good, we seek out what is beneficial to us and write off anything that we deem ugly or insufficient.
What if I began to see beauty from the eyes of Christ? What does that look like, how would my world change?
These women I met today are so incredibly, undeniably beautiful. They are strong, courageous, soft, bold, unfading examples of beauty. When I look at them my heart is full. What makes these women beautiful is not something that the world can give to me, but its a beauty that only God can develop within who I am. It’s a tangible beauty, something that I can attain through my relationship in Christ.
You can tell an imitation beauty from true beauty in one way; does it encourage you to be a better version of yourself or does it cause you to become self conscious and push you into a corner of hate and disgust?
This is what beautiful looks like to me and when I tell you that I want to grow into the beauty these women hold, I mean it.
I walked away today feeling encouraged and ready to take on the world. I don’t know about you but that is the kind of beauty I want to share with the women and men around me. I think it is time I redefine beautiful and begin to call out a heavenly beauty within myself because the beauties of this world will certainly fade. 🙂
1 Peter 3:3-4, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, 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.”
