Beauty

I've been enjoying a delicious, laid back, long weekend with some members of my tribe. I got to laugh. A lot. Tears were shed, but the diet coke stayed on the right course south. I walked through fallen leaves. I felt the soft drizzle of rain and watched it pelt the smooth waters of the lake and be effortlessly absorbed. Ping. Ping. As it hit the docks. No other sounds. Quiet. Stillness. Rain washes away the pain in the soul. Did you know that? Stand in the rain sometime. When your soul hurts. When you feel lonely or confused. Stand in the rain and turn up your face. I promise you will feel better.

I rode through some beautiful, breathtaking country. Such deep red fall colors that are certainly reserved for this part of the country alone. As I passed through God's art room, these were my thoughts... Beauty is often said to be defined by the beholder. I suppose that statement is true. Each person has a different eye for what is attractive. As women, it is almost certainly written into our DNA to want to be beautiful. Not all women like makeup, perfume and the whole bit, but almost all want to feel beautiful in some way to someone.

I struggled with this very idea for a good portion of my formative years. I was taught that vanity is a sin. God made you just the way he wanted you. If he wanted holes in your ears he would have put them there. Modesty is the most important thing you can wear, and that does not include anything that shows the shape of your legs and possibly your arms. Inwardly, I so wanted to be beautiful but felt that must surely mean I didn't want to be good. I coveted the earrings of my third grade best friend. She had a whole box full of them and when I stayed at her house I was so excited to help her pick out which ones to wear. I wanted them. So bad I could taste it. I didn't truly see how wearing something in my ears made me less good. I didn't understand those rules, and, frankly, even at nine, I didn't think anyone else did either.

Despite the fact that I still really struggle with accepting compliments - I really think that is a gift, actually, graciously accepting a compliment and not deferring - I have been able to learn it's okay to want to be beautiful. It is not vanity to care about one's appearance. It's okay to wear earrings, God does not view you any less because He looks on the heart. Inward beauty concerns our Lord.
And, the more years I have added, the more I want to share that with others. Personality does matter. In fact, it matters more. The kindness of your heart tops that amazing scent you are wearing. (And that's saying a lot because my Spidey sense is "smell.") And those words that roll off your tongue show the true condition of your heart.

These are the things that last. This is the beauty that does not fade. Those holes in your ears will close. Those green eyes will lose their sparkle. But a beautiful heart will always be magnetic. Outward beauty is okay, even good, my young friends, but inward beauty shines forever.