Beauty

Today I woke up, looked in the mirror, and felt beautiful.

I'm sure I'm not the only woman in the world who has a hard time believing they are beautiful (actually, I'm positive of this). Most days I wake up with the 'I am what I am... it's whatever' attitude towards myself. Recently though, I decided to try to believe that I am beautiful. So I began my ever increasing self-talk behavior  "Amanda, you are God's creation." "Amanda, your eyes look pretty today." etc, basically just finding positive things and trying to focus on them instead of the MANY negatives I can quickly jot down in list format for you either alphabetically or 'from head to toes' which ever you prefered.

Later on in the day I was riding the train to Chicago and my (ever so energetic) preteens were having a 'photo frenzy' moment. After a couple pictures, I asked to see them. Suprisingly, when I saw the picture of myself I thought "wow, I am beautiful today!" I told the teen they have a nice camera and it takes excellent pictures! They took another picture and I asked to see it. I was stunned that the second picture was just as beautiful. When I told the girl that I was pleased with the picture she said the cutest thing, "well of course Miss Amanda, you are beauuuutiful!" How special it was to me that she had called me beautiful!

It's easy not to feel beautiful trapped in a world that is screaming CONFORMITY. It's a part of out dress to impress, dying to be thin society. The airbrushed models on magazines who also with they were what they appeared to be. The reality is, we all have our 'flaws' and they are a part of who we are, not all we are.

My roommate Jennie had a mini poster on our fridge that said "Nothing makes a woman more beautiful than the belief that she is." And today I chose to believe I am beautiful! -and I think that shown through.

Here are some great scriptures about beauty from the Bible:
Psalm 139:14 - I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  (Knowing that we are His creation reminds us that we are amazing! If God's works are wonderful, and we are God's work... wow! We are amazing pieces of art! Know who you are!)

Proverbs 31:3 - Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. (Know what really matters- while outer beauty will not last forever, a woman who fears God is esteemed, valued, and adored.)
1 Peter 3:3-4 - Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, 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. (Inner beauty always shines!)

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