Aware - but of what?

Breast cancer has affected my life. I am a major proponent of breast cancer prevention and desire that researchers find a treatment soon. My great-grandmother passed away due to breast cancer and my own grandma has had it a few times. That being said, I believe awareness can be better raised when people post names of those they love who've been effected by cancer, color their posts pink or better yet, support a local Susan G. Komen chapter. To post statements that can lead people's imaginations to intimate situations or items only raises awareness of the sexual depravity of our society. I understand that it might be all in “good fun”, but consider the young people who are on your friend’s list. Also consider, would you want your loved one thinking of anyone else in a sexual manner? I am not a prude, nor am I standing in judgment of anyone. If you know me, you know that my desire is for purity for those who are unmarried & integrity for those who are. Our posts are glimpses into our lives and it’s my desire to stand for something without compromising my character or integrity.

True Beauty

I can hear the names now. The laughter still tries to intimidate. Twenty years later and the taunts still try to effect who I am. I say “try” because I’m done with it and I want to help others walk in the freedom I have found.

Something always seemed to be “not good enough”. Whether it was my hair, my dress or hygiene, something wasn’t another person’s idea of perfection, and therefore, was deemed strange, weird and gross by those around me. Ever feel like that? I lived my teen years growing in foundation in my spirit of who I was in Christ, but let others determine my worth based on my appearance.

Of course, we grow and change. We learn how to better care for ourselves. I’m thankful for the women God put in my life to help teach me things to better myself – AKA “This is conditioner – use it!" :) Caring for your body is one thing but basing who you are on other’s demeaning words shouldn’t change who you are.

As women, God has placed beauty inside of us AND outside! There will never be a product that will make you beautiful. No specific brand of clothing or spritz of a fragrance can make you attractive. Here’s what the Bible says about it:

Braiding your hair doesn't make you beautiful.
Wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes doesn't make you beautiful.
Instead, your beauty comes from inside you.
It is the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.
Beauty like that doesn't fade away. God places great value on it.
1 Peter 3:3-4 (NIRV)

The point is I WAS beautiful because of who God is IN me all along. I let others say who I was and let their judgment become my reality. I encourage the ladies who read this blog to look at themselves. Wearing a low-cut shirt won’t make you attractive. More makeup won’t cause you to become prettier. Straight hair isn’t better than curly or vice versa. It’s your spirit that makes you beautiful. A true lady is knows who she is, accepts it, embraces her uniqueness and learns to love herself, just the way she is.

In a world that sees with our eyes, I pray for eyes that see the heart….

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Proverbs 31:30