Beautiful

Well this is terribly embarrassing, but my niece nominated me to post 5 pictures I feel beautiful in. She's 14 and that's what 14 year olds are allowed to do. Every picture they post is beautiful. I'm over the age of 30 and my body has gone through a few changes since I was 14. When I open the front lens of my camera phone by accident, things get ugly. There is usually screaming and tears.  However, I thought it would be a good time to sit down and have a heart to heart about beauty. Teachable moments, amiright? 

Before you think it's just going to be a parade of hotness, read to the end. Without further ado, my 5 pictures. 

1.

I'll start out simply. I look good in this picture. It's okay to admit that once in a while. I'm a blushing bride wearing the fanciest dress I have ever worn. Hair and make-up done to suit the day. I'm wearing a tiara for goodness sake. I got a man that loves me and 200 people ready to gush and tell me how pretty I look. And....they would be right. But it was one day. And that one day does not make ME beautiful.

2.

Dear Friends look lovely together, don't they? We were giddy and joyful and best of all - together. But friends don't make a person beautiful. 

3.

More beautiful friendship and a 2nd generation friend (Mandy's baby!). And to be perfectly honest, I like this picture because I look skinny. I look skinny because I was breastfeeding at that time and my baby literally sucked the life and 25 pounds out of me. It didn't last. But "skinny" isn't what makes one beautiful, is it? 

4. 

Tan fat looks better than pale fat, as my wise mother says. Here I am tan and perhaps some might think that is beautiful, but I look at this picture and think I look chubby. Perhaps you do too. But it doesn't really matter what you think, does it? Your opinion doesn't make me beautiful.

5. 

You may think, "But Cassie, surely motherhood makes you beautiful?" Here's me looking my worst. But I felt dang good. I mean, strong and joyful and scared. What a wonderful and dreadful moment labor and childbirth was! But children don't make a woman beautiful. There are beautiful women without children.

I have had all the things the world calls beautiful. A hot bod (that I didn't know I had until it was gone). A loving husband. Darling children. Fabulous friends. Great jobs. But NOT ONE of those things makes me beautiful. And I am so relieved that they don't! They can all be taken away in a breath. 

On my own, I am not beautiful. Not even inwardly, most days. 

There's this verse in the Bible, in 1 Peter, chapter 3. It says, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment...Rather 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." 

I chuckle to myself when I read that verse, because I am not gentle and my spirit is NOT quiet. Left to it's own devices, my old spirit is a hot mess.

But God has made it new through Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17) And He makes all things beautiful in HIS time. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) Praise the LORD. 

So, my dear Aubrey, the world will tell you are pretty (because you are)! And the world will tell you that you are ugly (because the world is mean)! But it doesn't matter. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. 

And I can tell you, He is growing a beautiful heart in you. Your love for Him is evident and radiates out to others. I'm proud of who you are and who you are becoming. Thank you for allowing your heart to be an example to mine.