“I am a princess. All girls are. Even if they live in tiny old attics. Even if they dress in rags, even if they aren’t pretty, or smart, or young. They’re still princesses.”
― Frances Hodgson Burnett, A Little Princess
I have always struggled a little
with “feeling beautiful” but I have learned that true beauty is not about looks
and so much more about the heart.
I had a very serious accident when I was three (of which I remember
nothing) but it resulted in severe scarring on my face. As I grew up, I struggled with my image
and feeling I didn’t measure up. I
suppose this made me feel self-conscious and shy and I found it difficult
walking into a room of people.
As I reflect, I know that I
probably focused too much on my image and not enough on my identity. Of course, as women and girls, we all
want to look and feel beautiful.
But I am learning that beauty is about so much more than how we
look. You see we are all
princesses, beautiful to God and treasured by him. He does not see our scars and blemishes but smiles as He
reflects on the beauty of His daughters.
When we really grasp the truth of our identity in God, we look at
ourselves and others in a different light.
As I have been reflecting on this,
the story of Esther has come to my mind.
Queen Esther was beautiful, but that is not why we remember her story. We remember her story because of her
courage, her compassion, her love for her people. She reflected true beauty.
I want to make
a difference in the world. I have
two beautiful daughters, but I encourage them to focus on having beautiful
hearts. I am passionate about
young women grasping their identity as princesses, daughters of the King of
kings. It is so important for us
to encourage and compliment each other not only on our outside beauty but also
on our inside beauty.
So once we truly know our identity
as God’s treasured possession – let’s focus on chasing after true beauty –
beauty that has courage to stand up for those who have no voice, beauty that
has compassion for the poor, the forgotten, the orphans, beauty that sees the
best in others and encourages and brings joy and light.
To finish, here is a little song
‘Beautiful For Me,’ which I came across a few years ago. It sums up how God sees us and loves
us.
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