Monday, April 18, 2011

beauty.

I mentioned in my last post that I was heading to my hometown to help out with this conference. 
In a nutshell, it was a day for high school girls to be showered with love and pampering and hear how purely beautiful and loved they are {by God}.

To be honest, it wasn't the most well planned or executed event. But it was the first year for it, and bumps along the way are to be expected, right? 
{can you tell that I tried to put the program-evaluator in me aside?}

What it was, however, was inspiring, Truth-filled, and humble
Katie Anderson spoke to the girls about having a purely beautiful mind, body, and heart. She spoke with us about what that looks likes and why its so, so important. 
Other women shared their stories of learning that they were loved & beautiful.
The girls were showered with gifts as a reminder.
I couldn't help to think back to when I was in high school, and how great of a message this would have been to hear/and still is. 

Now that I'm {slightly} older and {just a tiny bit} wiser,
I think I'm starting to really get it. 
Beautiful is so commonly defined as stylish, or fit or attractive.
But if you would ask me who some of the most beautiful people I know are and then have me tell you what makes them so beautiful...
I would probably forget to list a single physical trait. 
That's not to say, at all, that I don't have physically lovely people in my life.
I just see hearts that are set and focused on Jesus and loving others, and minds that pure and humble and selfless as most beautiful.

All this to say, the conference was good. The message was perfect.
And I really hope the girls were able to hear it.
I know that I did. 
I'm not sure how much I contributed to the event, 
but I know it contributed to me.
I walked away being so reminded that I may not be the most stylish, thin, attractive woman.
I may not be the best student, wife, daughter, friend, blogger, whatever.
Its so easy to compare myself to others and feel that I fall short.
I do this to family, friends, coworkers, peers at school.
Everyone.
Often.
We all fall into this trap, right?
I feel much less than beautiful often.
How freeing to be reminded that none of those standards I'm using matter.
none define pure beauty.
The Truth, in fact,
is that I am so very loved.
And because of that, I am so very beautiful in the ways that matter.

know that today, you're loved and beautiful.

even more, we are all loved and beautiful.
what would it look like if we lived that out? If we believed that each of us is loved and beautiful, and we acted that Truth out?


"We love because he first loved us."
1 John 4:19

CS Lewis, in The Weight of Glory, said,
"It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship...There are no ordinary people."

happy monday! 

9 comments:

Jamie said...

These are words I need to hear more often. What a wonderful conference it must have been!

Sam W. said...

what a beautiful post. thank you for sharing! i hate that we always play the comparison game.

Popcorn, Pugs & Peonies said...

This is really beautiful. I am not particularly religious, but this is a great message for all women to hear (and it sounds like a great conference).

Emily said...

Guilty! I compare way too much. Something I've been working on...especially since blogging.

It sounds like you had a great time at the conference and took a lot away from it. How great I'm sure it was to speak to teen girls about this. I hope they're ears were open to it.

Happy Monday to you!!

meme-and-he said...

This post was so encouraging!! Its hard not to compare at times, so I needed this :) sounds like such a life-giving weekend. oh, and I would tell dave your comment about the pacers v. bulls, but he might drive to indiana and karate chop you. we will see who wins!!

Mary Nevin said...

what a selfless and incredible thing to do!! that is something that is so needed and how amazing to share your inspiring perspective on the issue. Thank you!! Definitely uplifted me today :)

Jami Nato said...

love this post. i need to remember these things daily...

Ashley said...

awesome, encouraging post friend - thanks for sharing!

Megan said...

This is so wonderful and SO VERY needed!! What a great way to show girls the love of Christ!