Written for the prompt from Red Writing Hood:
Physical beauty.
It can open doors-and can also close them.
image from countryliving.com
We all were given unique gifts. Over time I made peace with the fact that classic beauty was not one of mine. This freed me to develop the gifts of character that God had blessed me with.
As a child I was keenly aware that I did not fit the ideal of what society deemed beautiful. I was stocky and possessed an unremarkable face. My teeth were a mess. My hair was curly and my mother didn’t have the faintest idea how to care for it. The things she knew to do to care for her own straight hair only made mine more unruly and damaged.
A friend visiting my room during my early teen years remarked that she had finally figured out what was missing from my bedroom, a mirror. I had not noticed its absence. I rarely looked in a mirror. In truth, I still rarely look into a mirror. I am not all that comfortable with what I see reflected back when I do look. So, I most often pass mirrors by without a glance.
While never really comfortable in my own skin, I have grown quite comfortable in my own soul. God gifted me with a sensitive and caring heart, a quick mind and the ability to turn a phrase. These gifts I have honed in an effort to use them to their fullest. In doing so I have grown into a woman who makes an impact in the world and in the lives of the people I love.
If I had been more comfortable with my physical beauty it might have been a distraction to me. It might have made me feel less need to concentrate on the development of inward beauty. From time to time I imagine what it might be like to be a great beauty pleasing to the eye, but mostly I am content to possess a beauty that touches the heart instead. That is the only beauty that lasts.
Lovely analysis and reflection of your story and experiences.
This line: “I am content to possess a beauty that touches the heart” is stunning.
I loved this post! I never had a mirror in my bedroom as a teen either. As an adult the only mirrors hubby and I had in our house were in the bathroom (the little ones). We recently moved into a house with mirrored closet doors that take up one entire wall of the bedroom. I hate them. A lot! LOL
I love the recognition that spiritual beauty is more long-lasting than physical beauty!
Oh, gosh! I think the wall of mirrors would have scared me off!
Thank you for sharing your heart, and I can see reflections of your beauty throughout your writing. I think it’s unfortunate that our collective worldview of beauty is so skewed. Whose to say what beautiful is or isn’t? I believe beauty is in every human being, every single one. Of course, it’s easier to tell this to you than to myself
So much easier to see the beauty in others!
I really liked this line:
“If I had been more comfortable with my physical beauty it might have been a distraction to me. ”
I’ve been working on this comment for, like, 5 minutes and realized I have nothing to add because you’ve said it so well.
Truly a Proverbs 31:30 read.
I enjoyed reading this. Thank you for sharing it.
You got me to get my Bible out this morning to check the verse! perfect
It’s true… beauty is as beauty does.
Your beauty shines through in your words. In the experiences that you share. In the things that you have seen and the reactions that you have had.
I have never judged someone for the way they looked… which is in part, why I was picked on so much in Highschool. If you had a big heart and enjoyed life, I wanted to spend time with you. I’m still that way.
“I have grown quite comfortable in my own soul.” Love that line–what a show of inner beauty and strength. If only everyone was able to be at peace with themselves. Well done.
You seem to have what I have just in the last few years gotten a grasp on.
Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder. My Beholder is God and He made me with His perfect beauty inside and out. I’ve finally learned if my beauty is not pleasing to the world its ok because He says I’m His beloved and a masterpiece. And that’s what gives me my true value and worth anyway. Wonderful post, wonderful words and wonderful view of life.
I am glad you recognize the truly important part of beauty and that you honor it so well.
You know…until you mentioned it, I didn’t realize I never had a mirror in my room either. For probably many of the same reasons.
This was a great introspective piece. I really enjoyed ever word.
Who gets to decide what beauty looks like? The media? In my experience, the most beautiful people are those who make others feel valued. You seem like one of those truly beautiful people. Great writing!