You Are Beautiful, Day 6

Beauty.  

They say it's in the eye of the beholder.  I struggle with that saying because it puts the onus on another person's opinion.  These days, as I approach forty, I'm thankful for the wisdom that age often brings.  Because part of that wisdom is the realization that reliance on others' affirmation is time-consuming, pointless and makes me weary.

These days it is so easy to fall into the trap of believing we are not beautiful if we don't measure up to a societal construct.  There are salons on every corner promising that you'll be beautiful when you leave.  The billboards scream that you'll be beautiful if you call this or that doctor and schedule a consult for the latest augmentation surgery.  The radio blasts with commercials for the latest fad diets, "Eat Real Food!  No Exercise!  Lose Weight Fast!"  The magazines in the grocery store checkout aisle scream intimidation hosting airbrushed beauties with trussed up locks, 6 inch heels (often there is cleavage to match!) and a skirt with a view.

One thing I notice is that women (especially), often mold our opinions of ourselves into the opinions others have of us.  Instead of the acknowledgement that our worth and value comes straight from the One who made us, we look to other, flawed human beings to give opinions.  And we often assign a great worth to those opinions!  

Why do we do this?  Part of the reason is because we're wired that way.  Women thrive on relationships and emotional connections.  We need other women to affirm us and we expect our men to do so as well.   There's nothing wrong with that, to a point.  But what can happen, then, is that women place higher value on one negative opinion and disregard anything positives they might encounter. 

Of one thing I am reasonably sure:  If we stay focused on God in our lives, we will need less affirmation.  We will acknowledge our beauty as we know we are made in God's own image. 

If we bathe in the love of our Savior regularly in prayer, perhaps Adoration, and certainly frequenting the Sacraments, we will keep our hearts full of the Love of Christ.  And when we're full of the Love of Christ, we won't need as much affirmation from our peers or even our men. 

"Our hearts are restless until they rest in You." --Saint Augustine, Confessions

The endless pursuit of affection and affirmation from the world will never be enough to satisfy our hearts.  God's beauty poses a vast difference from the world's opinion.  God sees all of our being.  He is pleased with our physical attributes -- all of them, and He sees completely through to our soul. 

We are beautiful because He created us in His image. 


Michelle is a Catholic wife and mom to five children, who works full-time outside the home.  She enjoys reading, writing and running.  You can find her musings at Endless Strength.