Dear Serial Dieter,
When you looked in the mirror this morning, what did you think?
Did you think you were beautiful? (only 2% of women do)
Did you judge what you saw?
Were you happy or dismayed?
Did you step on the scale to see if your number was good/bad? Did that help you define your beauty?
How did you reach your conclusion?
The world defines beauty according to its time and culture. If you look back over the centuries, you’ll see that “beautiful” was very different from what is considered beautiful today.
Ancient Egypt, one of the most vain societies, put a strong emphasis on physical beauty. They considered youth a significant element in beauty. Much like us, they seemed to favor slender, perfectly symmetrical women. Quite differently, in Italy during the Renaissance women with full figures and high foreheads stole their men’s hearts. Women even plucked their hairline to accommodate their modern definition of beauty. During the 18th century in France, women were considered beautiful if they had an oval face with long curly hair.
Oh, the definition of “Beautiful” has changed with each fluctuation of society or geographical location.
It always does.
When I was growing up, big hair was beautiful. Twenty years later, big hair looks ridiculous! I look back at my high school pictures and they crack me up! My shorts are super short (so are the boys!) and my hair was BIG – hair sprayed and poofed up with “wings.”
Rest assured, however you “look” today, you have been the ideal beauty queen during some point in time !!!
Check out this video:
Though society’s definition of beauty changes, truth does not.
How do you know if you’ve made the mark… if you’re beautiful?
Are you judging by this year’s definition of beauty? Or the last decade’s?
Because society’s definition of beauty changes, we need to hold to “Truth.”
What is beauty?
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold 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. (1 Peter 3:3-4 NIV)
God values the beauty of your inner self. He describes an inner beauty that does not fade; a beauty that is a gentle and quiet spirit. I have searched the bible high and low and there are few verses that tell us what God defines as beautiful. Perhaps that’s because God knows beauty (as we define it) is fleeting and can’t truly satisfy.
Oh friend, the truth is that your value has nothing to do with your beauty (except it can be an indicator of how you care for yourself). If you base your value on fickle people – you’ll be constantly performing like a juggler in a circus show. One day you’ll wake up and realize you don’t have an identity – because you’ve spent your years trying to meet others’ expectations.
I don’t want to mislead you and brush over your feelings of wanting to look the best you can look. I do too! Actually, I believe we should look as beautiful as possible. But not because we will be deemed more valuable by (ourselves and) others.
We have one body and there are no re-runs with life. We should appreciate our bodies and make them as strong and healthy and beautiful as possible for our own personal satisfaction and inner peace and out of gratitude for God’s gift to us.
As I was setting my exercise goals this year, I realized how fortunate I am that my body works as well as it does. Not everyone has that gift. When I take the time to realize the gift of a body that moves relatively well and can be strengthened…why wouldn’t I stay as strong as possible, as long as I possibly can? Why wouldn’t I put on a little makeup and do my hair to make the most of God’s gift? Not to capitalize for my gain, but in appreciation for all He has given me and because the God of the universe wants to use me to enrich other’s lives and draw them closer to Him?! Oh, what can be more beautiful than that???!
Doesn’t that just charge you up?? That God wants to use you to touch others? To draw them into a love relationship with Him?! Let that motivate you to be the best YOU that you can be! Out of love, not searching for other’s approval.
When we make the most of God’s gifts to us, we are able to reach out and minister to others from a place of peace deep in our souls. That beauty is contagious! And whether the scale is high or low, your face is broken out or ivory doesn’t matter, because you have a peace that transcends outward adornment. No doubt, society is attracted to “pretty,” but friendships and relationships are built on inner beauty. Isn’t that what truly matters to you? Isn’t character what you love about your friends?
I urge you to take a step back and look at you. Beauty is the ability to see your reflection and realize that what you see isn’t beauty but beautiful. True beauty is how you hold yourself. How you appreciate the little things that make you, you. The shape of your eyes, the length of your nose, the style of your hair. Your reflection may not be “ideal” in your mind – but heck, it’s YOU! And you are a wonderful creation – on this earth once. One lifetime. You may as well enjoy the gift of every moment!
Remember in 15 years that hairstyle is going to be sooooo weird! But for today – it works!
You’re pretty amazing! Enjoy your uniqueness!
Walking this journey with you,
Michele Morin says
Hi, Char!
I’m thankful for your courage in taking on this topic.
Let us not be subject to the whims of changing perceptions, and instead value the unchanging beauty of a “gentle and quiet spirit” (defined with grace and not law!).
Did you intend to have a delayed start to the link up today, or is that just a glitch?
Blessings to you!
Char says
Oh I love your gentle spirit Michele!! Yep, a “glitch” 😉 Sorry.
Laurie says
Thank you for the gentle reminder to look within for our true beauty. When I look in the mirror, I have a hard time looking at the 60-something lady looking back at me! The wrinkles and gray hair must belong to someone else! I still (usually) feel beautiful inside when I remember to reflect God’s light.
Char says
I understand Laurie! I don’t know why they make those mirrors 5x magnified! I really shouldn’t use mine!But when I get squirly about my reflection, I’m reminded of a sweet salt-and-pepper haired lady that I met running a local fresh market. Her young and “beautiful” employees were talking about Botox and she smiled through her aged wrinkles and said “Not me! I’ve earned every one of these wrinkles!” Oh, and she was proud!!! THAT is a naturally beautiful woman I will never forget. I have no idea if she’s a Christian but she has ministered to me through every wrinkle!
Crystal Twaddell says
Char, I love your call to consider our body as a gift and to make the most of it. Letting the world define our beauty only ends in disappointment and pain. I am continually captivated by women who know who they are, and live this out authentically…true beauty. You are so right…truth never changes.
Lauren Sparks says
It’s so hard to block out the message we hear from culture at large. Thanks for pointing us in the right direction. laurensparks.net
Char says
It’s even harder to block out our own judgment of ourselves… I find that I’m the one putting pressure on myself to measure up. Thanks for sharing Lauren!
Katrina Hamel says
I love this encouragement and your biblical perspective! Definitely gave me a boost today!
Char says
Have a blessed week Katrina, thanks for stopping by.
April says
OKAYY!! That is to the Lord. This is the 3rd straight thing in a row that I’ve needed today. Circumstances in my life have caused an area of weakness and I must have put my guard down cause the enemy has been working heavily on me to doubt that I’m just not what I should be. I keep going back to look at what my Jesus has made clear to me and how he is so clearly and intentionally leading me in my writing and posts. He’s allowing me to be an encouragement…..so why I feel I’m not being what I should be? Im sure it’s coming from I have new limitations (health) and its tough getting used to them…..thanks for this encouragement. I am me and just going to keep setting goals and let Him lead!! p.s. I had BIG HAIR!!!
Char says
The one thing that I have discovered through all of this… Watching myself with curiosity rather than judgment… Is that I have a skewed perspective of my worth. As do most serial dieters. How crazy is that?! When God is using us… There is no greater satisfaction, yet we often set the standard somewhere else…
Gayl says
“When we make the most of God’s gifts to us, we are able to reach out and minister to others from a place of peace deep in our souls. That beauty is contagious! ”
Beautiful post, Char! This is one of the best I’ve ever read on true beauty! Blessings to you!
Char says
Ah thanks Gayl. I really searched the Bible to find God’s definition. It’s interesting that He doesn’t place much value at all on outward beauty.
Patrick Weseman says
Thanks so much. I really needed this. So beautiful. I going to have to steal that meme. It is so beautiful.
Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
Char says
Thanks for your encouragement Patrick! Help yourself! I appreciate your sharing.
Donna Reidland says
I enjoyed the video. I think I’ve been living in the wrong decade or maybe century. LOL But it’s true, ideas about beauty come and go, but God created us all in His image. We need to focus on being good stewards of our bodies and cultivating what’s on the inside, don’t we? Blessings, Char!
Char says
Oh so true Donna! It’s amazing to see the changes And what we deem is beautiful. It definitely grounds us to rethink the expectations we put on ourselves.
Cheryl says
Beautifully written; an important message for me to convey to my middle school aged daughter that is focused on name brands and looking at herself in the mirror. PS-I still have big hair but not by choice!!!!