The concept of beauty has been in my mind for a while now. What our world sees as beauty and what it promotes as beauty is not necessarily beautiful. Women are bombarded all the time to look the part: young, fit, sexy. There is pressure to look a certain way and it hurts women everywhere from all ages. My daughter told me not long ago that one of her little friends at school told her she is fat because she has a little tummy! She is adorable and she is only 6! She is not fat at all but in her little mind that word is playing now time after time. She keeps looking at herself in the mirror and my heart aches when I think she may not like what she sees. This beauty that the world longs for is ugly. It hurts people and it robs them of their self-esteem.

This beauty for show is not what the Bible teaches. From the beginning God created man and women in His image.

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27

How wonderful and liberating is that? To know we were made in God’s image! Of course we forget that and we listen to what the world tells us all the time about our appearance and that is yet another consequence of a fallen world. A world that rejects God and His love. We do not have to listen to that – as Christian women we must stand firm and tell other women, our daughters, granddaughters, sisters, mothers, cousins that what God is after is a heart that loves Him.

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

We all know that no matter how much we avoid it or try to delay the appearance of old age, for most of us it will come. Our body shape will change and wrinkles will appear. What will be left? Will we be feeling sad when it happens or will we be rejoicing because of the many years God has given us and the wonderful things we have seen and done for His glory? Will we be spending our years trying to impress other people or gain their attention because of the way we look or will we be seeking the Lord with all our hearts and fill our lives with things that are pleasing to Him?

My heart desires to see my daughter living her life to the full, for God, Knowing she was made perfect in His image and that beauty, true beauty, is in seeking His face and worshipping Him. My prayer is that I can be a good example for her and teach her how much God loves her and what a beautiful person she is!

God bless.

P.S.: I do not have anything against women looking after themselves. I have written another post called Mirror, Mirror on the wall you might like to read.

https://thingsoftheheart.wordpress.com/2013/09/09/mirror-mirror-on-the-wall/