Let's imagine for a moment a woman named Daisy. One look at her and you feel inadequate. She obviously has it all. Daisy has perfect skin. Her body is shaped perfectly with a flat tummy and no saddle bags. She has long, thick blonde - no, golden - hair with just a slight wave in it. She has long thick lashes and perfectly shaped nails that are always polished to perfection. Her clothing is always ironed, neat and tidy with matching shoes to go with each outfit. She looks beautiful. And then she speaks. With all that outer beauty the assumption is that her words will be as flowing and sweet as milk and honey, as kind as Mary Poppins and as inspirational as Mother Teresa. But that is not the case. Her words are full of anger and bitterness as is her heart.
You see, beauty is not about the outward appearance of a person. Beauty is about what's inside. Kahlil Gibran said, "Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart." How soft a woman's heart is toward others. How warm and tenderly she looks at her children, her friends, her family, strangers. Beauty is seen in how she willingly helps and serves others. A woman's true beauty is found in how she makes others feel. Real beauty is in authenticity and genuineness. These are the inner qualities that make a woman beautiful.
Beauty is inside, true, but does that mean we don't have to take care of our outer selves? Absolutely not. I heard Chuck Swindoll speak one time about women taking care of themselves. He was encouraging them to make the most of how God created them and to respect their body by taking care of it and always being presentable. My husband tells this story of his mom often. When she was getting ready to go out, anywhere, she would always take time to "put on her face." She could not/would not go out until she was presentable. It was a matter of self-respect. How you present your outer self says something about how you feel about yourself as a whole.
In Chuck Swindoll's speech, there was one little line that spoke volumes. He said, "Teeth, have them!". I still crack up every time I think of that line. But there is some truth in it. We do need to make the most of what God has given us by making sure we do what we can - by using make up sparingly to enhance our features. By wearing cloths that flatter our shape. By eating healthy, exercising and getting plenty of rest. The Bible proves to us that God cares about our bodies in Philippians 3:21 and so should we. We must keep it in shape, tend to it's needs; it is the only body we will have here on earth. In addition, we read in the Bible about the sacredness of our bodies. Think about that! "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your body." 1 Corinthians 6:19 & 20 When I think of my body as housing the Holy Spirit, it makes me want to take care of it.
I don't know who said this, it is listed as an unknown author but this about sums it all up:
"Beauty is being the best possible version of yourself on the inside and out."
I think that is what God wants from us when He instructs us to honor Him with our bodies --
Be the best possible version of yourself, on the inside and out!
