True beauty?

Recently, I was walking through our local mall, people watching on my quick shopping trip alone. As I walked and glanced around, I saw an abundance of moms with kids in carts, walking alongside... and these moms looked awesome! On the outside, anyway. Several different moms I noted were perfectly primped, made-up, hair colored/teased/ styled/ sprayed, nails prettily painted, glamorous clothes, the latest fashion in shoes, modern purse... and they looked empty to me.

Don't get me wrong, I like to dress well to go outside my home. I like to paint my nails occasionally. I like to have my hair cut, trimmed, looking nice. But this was more over-the-top glamour than I do or have ever done. It made me think about the motives of these women. Did they find their worth in looking perfect? Was it so important to have their hair, makeup and nails just so? Does their husband think that is important too?

I wonder if these women are beautiful on the inside too. That is more important to God. Are they lovely women to be around? Do they possess a gentle & quiet spirit? Do they find joy in serving God and their family? I don't know, they were all strangers to me, a picture of the world and the ways of the world. Honestly, it saddened me.

I pondered that for a few days. This past weekend, I attended a Mother's Day Coffee at our church with my three lovely daughters. The tables were set with pretty plates and napkins, flowers as centerpieces, colorful tablecloths. But what I enjoyed most was the speaker. This godly older woman in our church has spoken frequently at our MOPS group, leads a Bible Study, has wonderful children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. She spoke about beauty-- true beauty.

My two younger girls eating at the Coffee...

She told us we are all beautiful. No matter what we wear, no matter if we are in our favorite shorts, blouse or accessory, we are beautiful. We are God's daughters, He made us and we are beautiful. He renews our hearts each day. God doesn't look on the outside at our gray hair, wrinkles and unpolished nails, but He looks at the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”


Psalm 139:13-14 
“For You (God) created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” 



1 Peter 3:3-5

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. ⁴ Rather, 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. ⁵ For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves..." (emphasis mine)


Isn't that what we all want to hear? God thinks we are all beautiful and wonderful, because He made us, He knit us together. He looks at our hearts.


Take that message with you today: You. Are. Beautiful.