Beauty from the Inside Out

I try not to look at my eyebrows, when I wash my face. Or rather, where my eyebrows used to be. Along with thinning hair on my scalp, my eyebrows have announced their intention of moving on.

So long, eyebrows! The Youth Ball is rolling away too fast for me to keep up with. All of this would be depressing, indeed, if I wasn’t a Christian and fully convinced that it is far more valuable to cultivate inner-beauty!

But what is it, exactly?

A Gentle and Quiet Spirit

I was not born with one. I like to speak my mind. Apparently I sometimes get my point across through much hand flapping and gesturing. I have been teased more than once about my “expressive hands.”

I probably need to simmer down a bit. I don’t want to be like the beautiful woman in Proverbs 11:22, who came across to others like a showy gold ring in a pig’s snout! Because I feel things deeply, I need to dig deeper still and cultivate a bit of peacefulness and quietness. I need the Lord’s help to grow in discretion about when and how to express my passionate thoughts.

A Kind and Compassionate Spirit

Two needlepoint prayers, hanging over my bed, formed the basis for my childhood conversations with God. I remember laying on my bed, feet up on the wall, reading – “to grow in kindliness and grace, and so make earth a happier place.”

Kindliness and grace are certainly beautiful traits, and we will have no lack of opportunities to cultivate them. The way we respond to other people can be so powerful.

A Cashier at Krogers

I witnessed a cashier at Krogers interact with an exceptionally rude customer. Standing behind “Mrs. Rude,” I squirmed to hear a barrage of complaints, including profanity. Jessica listened patiently, and responded with unusual kindness. She did not recoil from the customer’s attack in anger or defensiveness.

Instead, I watched as Jessica slowly softened and changed the heart of her customer. By the time the angry woman exited the store, the customer’s countenance had visibly changed. All because a cashier named Jessica was dressed in kindness and compassion. What a lovely example she was of inner beauty.

A Generous Spirit

My husband and I sprinkled rose petals on each other’s heads during our wedding ceremony, to symbolize the generous love we intended to offer. Now that we’ve been married awhile, it is easy to take each other for granted in the daily struggles of life. But I don’t want to take my husband for granted – he’s a wonderful man!

In the same way, I don’t want to take my Savior for granted. I want to tell others how much I love and appreciate Him! I want to go out and serve Him every day. Like the woman who poured perfume on Jesus’ feet, I want to give my all for Jesus.

I want to be quick to say yes to respond to the many needs around me, both with my time and financial resources. In Proverbs 31:20, the wife of noble character “opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.”

I know of many individuals who need help, and many worthy organizations who count on it. I don’t want to just routinely throw some money at a charity out of “duty.” I don’t want to give gifts that cost me nothing. I want to dig deeper in my giving!

A Thoughtful Spirit

The foods that we eat show up in our bodies. The state of our health is directly affected by the things we consume. Including plentiful fruits and vegetables in our diet will give our skin a healthy glow.

In the same manner, our thought life affects us. In Philippians 4:8, we are told that “whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”

A Bright Countenance

The light switch for our overhead kitchen light bulbs has to be set “just so.” The tab on the switch has to be halfway up, or else the lights above will keep flickering. I know exactly the position the switch needs to be in, to keep those light bulbs steadily burning.

Practicing the advice in Philippians will keep our countenance bright, also! As we meditate on pure and lovely things, our attitudes and countenance will reflect this. People can tell when we’ve spent time with the Savior.

Ageless Beauty

My husband looks at me rather quizzically when informed that my face is “falling down.” I am also noticing that the facial moisturizers on my bathroom counter last about ten minutes on my skin before they disappear into wrinkles forever.

How thankful I am that Inner beauty can be cultivated at any age, as we yield our hearts and minds and spirits to the Lord Jesus Christ – and allow Him to transform us – from the inside out.


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