Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Glorious Beauty

I FINALLY GOT MY BLOG BACKGROUND TO WORK!!!! Thanks to Bailey, Kara and Mom for helping me figure it all out. So this is the way it should stay for... a really long time. If not forever.


When I was writing the title of this post, another thought popped into my mind.

As some of you know, I will be away at camp for the next week. Thus, I have been packing, putting together outfits, making a small list of things that I want to buy before I leave and then, trying to cram everything that I've gotten together into my suitcase. This isn't the only thing that has been occupying my mind, however. I have thought about the ton of teenage girls that are going to be at camp, and how I am probably not going to measure up to them.

I just know that somebody gasped. Before you decide not to follow my blog anymore, read the rest of my post ... okay?

If I were to ask every girl on the whole entire planet of earth, if they wanted to be beautiful, I could almost guarantee that they all would answer yes. (The feminine ones anyway.) If I asked every girl on the planet of earth if they thought they were beautiful, how many do you think would say no?

I really have given up on figuring out what is "beautiful" these days. I find perfectly atrocious looking pictures of girls on Face Book, and a comment beneath it that calls the girl "pretty" "beautiful" or worse...."hot." Then, I've heard the "truly" beautiful girls call themselves ugly.

However, as I was worrying about what I was going to look like, and what all the other girls were going to look like, a verse from Proverbs 31 came to my mind.

"Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised."

Since every girl, pretty or not pretty, does not see herself as pretty at all - most likely, this verse should help you tremendously.

Think! You are a daughter of God! He doesn't care that your clothes are not in style, and that your face is covered with blemishes. This is not a new revelation to me, but it seemed much more real when I was so busy worrying about how I looked on the outside. Your motives should not be to please a person on this earth - it should be to please your Father, the King.

So remember, when all those immodest fashions tempt you, and you feel like a geek walking through the grocery store, or when you go out in public, that God loves you, and is proud to call you His child. Remember, that this earthly kingdom is not our real home, but we are the King's children in Heaven.

5 comments:

Maddi said...

Anna, this is a wonderful post, and you don't have to worry about what you look like compared to the other girls because you ARE beautiful!

Bailey said...

Anna, so true and so beautifully put. I wake up some days and think, "I didn't know how pretty I am." Other days I glance in the mirror and want to scream out my frustration: "Who is the FUDDY DUDDY staring back at me?"

It's even worse when I'm around more fashion conscience young ladies and I suddenly turn into a self-conscious geek who ruins her hair in the process of beautification. Thanks for that reminder. Lately I've come across several people who, while not coming close to fashion model perfection, have this sort of quiet beauty peeking out in odd places...a smile...a look in their eye...an expression of peace. Even some of the uglier parts give off a unique aura that I at least find beautiful.

And I'm totally on board with the "hottie" thing. No thanks. And don't call me "cute" either. ((gag))

Happy camping, Quizzy!

Bethany d said...

Ack, I have a bad tendency to be vain. I chant Proverbs 31:30 in my head all day and tell myself over and over again that it doesn't matter what others think. It only matters what God thinks and he doesn't care about outside beauty.

Every lady wants to be beautiful and probably all will say they're not. Most girls ruin what God has given them on the outside by caking on make-up. It is very rare to see a true "lovely" woman who is beautiful not in appearance but in behavior.

And Anna - you're very beautiful. Outside and In. Not biased either. Don't be so skeptical. :D

*hugs*

~Bethany

Anonymous said...

Every young lady can identify with this post. God made us to want to be beautiful and you are so right, it is that inner beauty of a meek and quiet spirit that He seeks.

I see that in you, Anna, and I appreciate how you dress, carry yourself, and express Christ to those around you. You truly are beautiful, inside and out.

As a teenager, I knew a lady who was not what people would call "beautiful". She was rather homely, but she had such a sweet spirit and was such a gentle, caring lady, that everyone who really knew her thought she was beautiful and I'm certain that God found the fruits of her life to be exactly what He meant for those of a true lady to be.

~Mom

Kara said...

:O Great Jumpin' Jellybeans. WHAT ARE YOU WRITING ABOUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pip