In a time and age where physical
appearance is much celebrated and the standards for beauty has been set
in a certain way by society and culture, it becomes very challenging for
women to feel satisfied and happy about who they are and how they look
like. You have to meet a certain weight requirement because going beyond
that would mean being tagged as FAT and weighing less would make you
ANOREXIC. Your skin, hair, nose, bust, and almost every body part must
meet the minimum requirements of what others deem as "beautiful". If you
don't, you aren't just good enough. Its a sad and painful reality for
women today of all race and status. This is a fact, yes, but its not
necessarily the truth.
The TRUTH about beauty is, it has very
little to do with the outside but ultimately rests with what you are on
the inside. I discovered this truth after I graduated from college and
started working in Manila. I found a Christian community that taught me
to delve deep into the heart of God and experience a relationship with
Him in the most intimate and satisfying way. It was at that time that
all the insecurities I had started melting away. When I got my identity
so wrapped up in who Christ is, all the discontent and unhappiness I had
with regard to my self-image simply left me.
YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.. This
is because you are BEAUTIFUL in the eyes of our Maker. He looks at you
with delight even if you don't put any makeup on. He loves and accepts you,
just the way you are. The joy and happiness that you have which springs from your faith has made you more appealing... You have to love who you are, with flaws and all.
Knowing that you are completely unique and special -- means that you can spare yourself
from looking at other women with contempt because they're taller, or
prettier, or skinnier than you. I have learned in my years of existence
that COMPARISON IS A THIEF OF JOY and it really wont get you anywhere
but at the pit of despair and discontent.
So whats the secret to being pretty? Live happily. This is good for your skin and healthy to the body! You will naturally radiate and become instantly attractive to everyone around you. When you start working from the inside-out, you will start dressing well and putting on makeup not to get approval or to feel beautiful. You will do this because YOU KNOW YOU ARE ALREADY BEAUTIFUL and you just like to express it externally. Again, beauty comes from an inward joy and JOY comes from being secured by the love of God towards you. Don't let the media or billboards fool you... happy girls are always the prettiest.
Psalm 139:14
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.