beauty is fleeting... but a ♥ surrendered is eternally gleaming

I find a delight in getting ready each morning. There are days when things just flow and work gracefully in an outfit. And there’s this joy in my heart, this smile in my face, when I manage to do that. It’s like the icing on top of my favorite cupcake. Hmm. Then I stare at my face and see how in so many years, I’ve learned to appreciate this woman staring back at me. I see past the blemishes. I put on my make-up. I make sure to flatter her. She smiles back at me and promises to walk the day confidently. Flawlessly. Then my hair bounces back at me. Making its noticeable appearance in this reflection. Dark and bright it shines back at me. I’m surprised at how much I  cherish it. I once rejected it. But now it’s fulfilling. Careless. Freeing. The whole look works gently. Confidence beaming. I walk out to the world ready to beat it. Smiling secretly inside myself.

And then I think back to that sorrowful woman who once used to stare back. She’s gone through some changes. She’s not the same I just saw smiling confidently back. Her eyes were saddened. She was feeling disguised. She hid under despair, insecurities and lies. She felt ugly, no wonder she couldn’t shine. Darkness she let surround her, although the light fought to shine. She couldn’t see past the blemishes and appreciate the glam. The beauty that was growing within her, which made her special and wise. It took a greater love to reveal it. A greater might to transform, that woman whose hope was fleeting but whose grace had grown. She was scared to break loose, to let go of past chains and dislikes. But a love so great overcame her and made her realize. No matter how hard she try to cover the scars with make-up, clothes, and fake laughs, the reflection would be unsightly until she accepted she needed to let the old woman die. She let go and believed. She strongly jumped to the light. Finding herself free. Beautifully saved. At last.

Today that woman is me. Walking confidently towards my dream. After having defeated the things, insecurities that tried to stop me. It’s still a battle to fight, but a war that has been won. As Paul said,

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own… I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” Phil. 3:12-14

Remember … it’s not about what’s on the outside, but what’s inside... and keep this in mind: “charm is deceitful, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Prov. 31:30