Inward Beauty

Photo Credit: http://mysweetphilosophy.tumblr.com/post/60448161182

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 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." (1 Peter 3:3-4)

I was getting ready for work while my 13 year-old sister-in-law stood in the hallway watching me. I could tell something was on her mind.

"Why do you wear make-up?" she finally asked.

As I was putting on blush, I paused. The question took me off guard. And in the midst of searching for a good answer, I realized I didn't have one.

Whatever answer I gave, I knew she would remember it. She would remember it because she's still young and she's learning how to be a woman by watching what other women do. That's why I try very hard to be someone she can look up to--someone her parents are comfortable with her looking up to.

So, there I was, staring at a young girl on the brink of adolescence who was genuinely curious about why I covered up my natural beauty with products bought from a store--from people who spend their lives telling women that their natural beauty could be enhanced with just a streak of blush here and a dab of lipstick there.

I knew I didn't have a good answer. So, I gave an honest one.

"I wear make-up because I like to," I replied.

Honestly, I wish I would have had a better answer for her curious 13 year-old mind. But the truth is that I didn't--I still don't. I wear make-up because I like to dress up for work, for church, and for my husband. And though my husband tells me I'm more beautiful without make-up, I still enjoy wearing it.

But our conversation stood out in my mind for months. What are we teaching young girls about beauty? Are we teaching them that it is something that comes from within? Or are we teaching them that beauty is something you have to buy?

We spend a lot of time having to deal with what this world says about beauty. Beauty is thin. Beauty is tall. Beauty is this eye shadow. Beauty is this hair color. Beauty is this profession. Beauty is this idea. You get the idea.

I've never really bought into any of that. I don't think this world's idea of superficial beauty is attainable. And it's always driven the women in my life insane. They have always tried to change that about me. "You need to buy MAC make-up." "You could have at least done something different with your hair for this occasion." "You need to stop buying clothes from this place and start buying it here." "Don't you care how you look?"

It always saddens me when people try to change my exterior appearance. Because it doesn't matter how much make-up we use or how little calories we consume, outward beauty isn't something we should strive for. Our beauty should come from within. And we should help one another--as women--to focus on beautifying our hearts instead of our bodies.

Most of the women I find to be truly beautiful don't have flawless skin. They don't wear the latest fashion trends. They don't curl and primp their hair. They don't invest hundreds of dollars in make-up. What makes them beautiful is who they are--their hearts. They aren't insecure because they know that beauty is about so much more than the reflection in the mirror.

They love people--genuinely love them. They love God. They do good deeds for those less fortunate. They take care of their families. They cook meals for people who have lost a loved one. They take care of widows and orphans. They spend their days investing the better parts of themselves into others. That's true beauty. And you can't buy it in a store.

I try to spend most of my time not wearing make-up. Or wearing clothes that I think people might like on me. Instead, I let my natural beauty--God's creation--shine through. And when I dress up, I dress in the clothes I want to wear regardless of what people think of them.

I don't ever want to be judged by my looks, the clothes I buy, or the way I wear my hair. I want people to see a beauty that can't ever fade. I want them to see my inward beauty.