Beautiful Girls

Psalm 45:10-11 Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear...The King is enthralled by your beauty.

"I don't like these things that stick off my head," Carynne (4) pouted into the full length mirror.

"But that's how God made you. And He made you beautiful. Each person is unique." Clara (5) returned.

I stood half-dressed with crazy, uncombed hair in front of the same mirror.  I saw beauty.  Not the natural, genetic kind. Not the brand that can be purchased, trained or concocted.  I saw beauty that flows from the heart.  Clara saw it too.

Carynne's hair falls in gentle curls like a peaceful ocean reaching its' shore.  She sees curl and wants straight.  Clara's hair is stick straight and currently whacked.  She didn't look in the mirror and see her deficiencies or her sister's.  She saw God tenderly loving her.  She let God love her sister through her.  That, my friends, is beauty.

What I want most for my daughters when it comes to beauty, is for them to implant in their hearts God's love affair.  Knowing Him intimately brings out the beauty tucked inside all of us.

Jesus, I sit hours later fully dressed and without a stitch of makeup but I feel lovely.  I have drenched my skin in Your word, my hair in Your grace and my face in Your love.  You are enthralled with my beauty.  I am enthralled with You.
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22 comments:

  1. Dawn AldrichAugust 19, 2011 at 11:57 AM

    Lovely.

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  2. ShannonAugust 19, 2011 at 11:59 AM

    Thanks, Dawn. Made more lovely by sweet sisters like you!

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  3. BrittanyAugust 19, 2011 at 12:02 PM

    Beautiful! I have a friend who longed for her curly hair to be straight when we were younger. She straightened and straightened and used chemical treatments until it finally fell flat. Now, she regrets the change. When you ask her what she would tell her younger self, she says, "stay curly." It's funny how much a friend's hair experience can inspire you. Here's to loving myself as God designed and staying curly!

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  4. ShannonAugust 19, 2011 at 12:04 PM

    Isn't that the truth? We always want what we don't have. Another daughter in the family has naturally wavy hair. She used to spend hours straightening it. Now she wears it natural - it is far more fetching!

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  5. LizAugust 20, 2011 at 9:12 AM

    I want my daughters to see the beauty in themselves that I see. Right now, it is not a problem,but I dread the coming years!

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  6. cleffairyAugust 20, 2011 at 9:24 AM

    *sigh* I wish I can see beauty that way... at times, I am so vain

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  7. Susan ReichertAugust 20, 2011 at 11:01 AM

    How wonderful to see our beauty in God.

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  8. ShannonAugust 20, 2011 at 11:07 AM

    Liz, I know what you mean. Since I also have two older daughters, I've witnessed the cruelty and insecurity that threatens during the tumultuous middle school and early high school years. The good news is, God's truth wins!

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  9. ShannonAugust 20, 2011 at 11:09 AM

    Cleffairy,

    You are a true beauty. The king is enthralled with your beauty.

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  10. Annette MastronAugust 20, 2011 at 11:09 AM

    Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder...thanks for the reminder!

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  11. ShannonAugust 20, 2011 at 11:09 AM

    Susan, sweet friends like you are a thing of beauty as well, my lovely friend!

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  12. ShannonAugust 20, 2011 at 11:14 AM

    Annette, love, love that thought. God is our beholder! That is thrilling to my heart - thank you!

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  13. Tracy @ Mama-pressAugust 21, 2011 at 9:44 AM

    Very nice post.how wonderful your daughters already know what true beauty is!
    Tracy
    Www.mama-press.com

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  14. UnknownAugust 21, 2011 at 9:54 AM

    Tracy, it sure makes raising four girls a bit easier (and less emotional...) :)

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  15. SusanAugust 21, 2011 at 10:06 AM

    All young girls should read this. And live it.
    Thanks for stopping by our little blog!

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  16. UnknownAugust 21, 2011 at 10:14 AM

    Susan, I am so honored by your visit. Pour yourself a glass of OJ, stay awhile and be refreshed!

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  17. ErinAugust 21, 2011 at 9:33 PM

    That is so beautiful, Shannon!! A love affair with God. I just know you are raising Godly girls who will entrust their hearts first and foremost to the Lord! It sounds like they already know what true beauty is!
    Blessings,
    ~Erin

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  18. Julie GilliesAugust 22, 2011 at 9:54 AM

    Hi Shannon,

    I love this post. Your sweet daughters' conversation really touched me! It's truly the Lord who makes us beautiful. I'm so grateful that His love transforms us.

    Blessings to you, sweet friend. :-)

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  19. Kelli Williams WommackAugust 22, 2011 at 2:41 PM

    beautiful words and such a reminder of how our Savior loves us and is crazy about us!

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  20. UnknownAugust 22, 2011 at 9:55 PM

    Erin, having a love affair with God has profoundly changed me. His unfathomable love is tranforming. I see it changing my girls' hearts - so thrilling to watch!

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  21. UnknownAugust 22, 2011 at 9:58 PM

    Julie! So excited you dropped by! I'm consistently amazed by how much I learn from tuning into my kids. They lead me time and again to the heart of God. Who knew parenting would be such a spiritual blessing? :)

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  22. UnknownAugust 22, 2011 at 10:02 PM

    Kelli, How crazy He is about us - I so wish I'd understood this earlier in life and am praying our girls get it. :)

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