What is Beauty?

I am starting a new series of blogs. I have wanted to write quite a bit in the past few months, but have either been lazy, felt a little too vulnerable with the topics, or just wrote half only to be unispired to write the rest of it.

I saw on a friend's blog that she was doing 31 days of entries. The 31 is signifigant because it has do to with the Proverbs 31 woman. Lately, I have been thinking about what makes me, uniquely me, and other women, uniquely them. I will post all the entires in the next blog, but Day 1 of the blog asks the question- What does beauty meant to you? I think this is a good question for any woman to ask herself.

I have been thinking on this question for about 2 months now, after seeing it on my friend's blog. Beauty. It is one of the things that every woman deals with on a constant basis. We fight off what we feel we look like, or portray on a daily basis. If you are a Christian, you wonder if you are living what is characteritic of a Godly woman. If you are married maybe you think in the terms of whether you are living as a Godly wife should, and as a single, you think, am I doing this right? At least, that is what I think. What also comes to mind for me as a single woman is- am I alright just being me? Is there something wrong with me that I am still single when all my freinds are married. Hear me out before you start thinking that I have some major single issues. I think that there is always a image issue with women. I think we all handle it differently, but in the end, I think there is always something in us wondering if we could be better, look better, be funnier, wittier, more on-key and cool. The question that has come to my mind lately while feeling this way is- what good is that doing me, or what way is that making me better? The answer is it isn't. It isn't making me better, rather it is making me pick myself apart and try to be like others.

So, the answer to this question in my mind is simple. Beauty is being you. Unique and wonderful you. The Lord knows you and made you to be the wonderful person you are. Are you going to mess up? Heck yes. Are you going to have days where you feel like you should probably just stay in and eat your cares away with chocolate and watch "Say yes to the dress" for the 20th tim?. Probably...but those days are amongst the ones that make you who you are. The Lord has made us all unique and individuals for a reason. There is a reason HE choose to place us in our very routine we have now. He put us here for a reason and that reason is uniquely yours.

So, my challenge to myself, and to others is why keep trying to change who you are to fit in some mold that probably you have drawn up for yourself? Why not just work with what the Lord has given you and find all of your beauty in Him? I am talking to myself here, but this is something I feel the Lord is laying on my heart over and over again. So, be yourself and find you beauty in Him and what He has placed you in and around. Can't be too tough, right? Let's try together.

Proverbs 31:10-31


10 Who can find a virtuous wife?

For her worth is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
15 She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “ Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.