Everyone marveled at a coffee stained paper towel. Well, it wasn’t actually a coffee stained paper towel, but that’s what it looked like to me. I like art, but honestly I’m not one for this new modern, super abstract art. I prefer ancient times, like Greek and Roman sculptures. I don’t know, maybe I’m just not cool enough for that art yet.
So there I stood, facing this “masterpiece” trying to figure it out, but honestly I just couldn’t stop thinking about getting a cup of coffee.
I'm sure you've heard that quote before- that beauty is in the eye of the beholder? And to a point I agree. Like that day in the art museum confused as to why others find this paper towel looking thing so beautiful, sure, I’ll go with the eye of the beholder thing.
But when it comes to you and me I have to disagree.
I cannot tell you how many times I have talked with other women and young girls about the topic of beauty. It’s a question that plaques us daily, “am I beautiful?” From magazine articles, TV commercials, social media posts, even our peers, the world around us is constantly telling us how to be beautiful. We hear messages telling us to “use this cream to prevent wrinkles”, “this foundation for full coverage”, “follow this diet to loose 20 pounds in 2 days”. So in a desperate attempt to somewhat resemble a Kardashian, we try it all. But then we look in the mirror and all we see are the stretch marks and acne scars that just won’t go away. It’s a terrible cycle and our confidence takes a blow. We just want to be beautiful, but with so many voices telling us how, will we ever even get there?
You see, if beauty is in the eye of the beholder that implies beauty is relative. If I say this is beautiful then it is, but if you say it’s not then it’s not. This works for painted canvases but not for the human soul.
Answer me this: are you beautiful?
Typically our answer to this question depends on our day, our mood and our circumstances. When you feel like a blob on your couch your answer is probably no. But that night when you’re out on the town catching some glances- you’re answer might be yes.
Its interesting how in this self-indulgent, selfie culture so few women actually feel beautiful. 100 likes on your latest post makes you feel good for a few minutes until you scroll through your newsfeed to see her swimsuit picture and suddenly you’re back where you started.
We have developed a belief system that allows other to dictate truth to us. “If this person thinks I’m beautiful than I am.”
You might not have heard someone tell you that you’re beautiful much in your life so you long for someone you respect to tell you so you will finally believe it.
But hear these two truths:
1- If you give one person the power to define your beauty, your worth, or your identity, then you must give everyone the power to define it.
2- If you give one person the power to tell you that you are beautiful, then you must give that same person the same power to tell you that you are not.
Here’s the thing. Beauty is not relative. You are not beautiful because someone told you you are, and you are not, not beautiful because someone told you you’re not. No one has the power to decide you are beautiful and no one has the power to decide you are not. (horrible grammar I know, but you get the point)
Stop looking in the mirror, stop looking at the number of likes you get on your selfie, stop looking at how many men look your way- beauty is not found there. And contrary to popular belief, it’s not even found in you. It’s not found in you because you are an unreliable beholder- you change your mind daily! According to you, your beauty is relative.
Beauty is not in the eye of the beholder; it’s in the eye of the creator.
Sunsets are majestic aren’t they? What about those misty mountaintops painted across the colored sky? The infinite ocean when it kisses the sun? Or the star that shoots across the night sky?
Wow, creation is full of BEAUTY.
That’s because beauty itself is actually a person. The one who created beauty must first be, Himself, beautiful. So if you were created by Beauty himself, and you were created in his image, doesn’t that make you beautiful?
Yes. The answer is yes.
So let me ask you again. Are you beautiful?
Yes. Yes you are. Because you were created by Beauty Himself, in His image, to reflect Beauty. Whether or not someone affirms your beauty is a reflection of their heart, not your identity.
So take the power away from everyone else to define your beauty, including yourself. Your Creator calls you beautiful. Walk with confidence girl. Make-up or messy bun, you are seriously, so beautiful.
The King is enthralled with your beauty; honor Him for He is your Lord. –Psalm 45:11
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