Perfect and True Beauty

Who is that perfect woman?

Sometimes, we may browse through magazines, look on our computers or televisions or even as we walk through the streets of our town or city, and see women or images of women who we consider perfect in beauty. The beauty of these women is usually accentuated by trendy, fashionable clothes and accessories, colorful makeup, glossy lips, tinted eyebrows, and hairstyles or hair cuts that are truly a work of art. We may attempt to compare ourselves to these women, lose confidence in ourselves, and feel insecure. 

So, let us ask ourselves, "is true beauty dependent on perfectly placed makeup, the latest or best fashions? Is it in a beautifully structured body that seems to be on a continual diet?" 

My sisters, the world honors what the eyes can see, outward beauty through fashion shows, pageants, modeling shows, and the attractive women seen on television or advertisements. Not everyone is so endowed. Not everyone can enjoy true beauty. 

When we take a closer look, we may ask ourselves, “What is beauty?”  We can confidently say that true beauty is more than what is seen. True beauty is not the appearance of one’s body, the figure she portrays, the way she carries her hair, or the smoothness of the skin. It is the compassion of her heart, the empathetic spirit, the authenticity and sincerity of her voice, the sparkle of her eyes, the doorway to her heart where her love resides, where her emotions are  revealed, the passion she exhibits, a reflection of her soul, and enduring patience toward others. True beauty comes from within: a life which corresponds to her values, her support for others, her inspiring nature, and the relentless pursuit of her dreams. 

Beauty can be found in simple and ordinary things – songs and melodies, kind words, generous deeds, vast and awe-inspiring views, rainbows, behaviors and physical appearance of animals, painting and sculptures, visual narratives, gratitude, laughter, the warmth of a blanket, rhythms and patterns between people, animals, and things, an impressionable sunset or sunrise. All tell us that we do not have to travel to distant lands to find beauty. There is beauty all around. Yes, love in the home also portrays beauty. 

The best kind of beauty is authentic beauty. Beauty can be found in our environment, nature, our work, and in people, not because of their appearance but because of who they are and what they do. 

Real beauty is nurturing a relationship with our Maker, the Creator. God made us to be wonderful creatures as King David declared in Psalm 139: 14. “I am fearfully and wonderfully made,” Since He created us, we are privileged to have a deep and growing relationship with Him as we read His Word, pray, and follow the leading of His Holy Spirit. In this intimate relationship we will find true beauty. 

Our real beauty is in finding our purpose in life. A beautiful woman is one who is industrious, one who is ready to fulfill God’s mission for her no matter what season of life she is in. There is no age limit in true beauty. 

True beauty is seeing and bringing out the best in others. Real beauty is found in a caring, honest, loving, sympathetic and empathetic relationship with others. A woman of beauty shares her resources and what she knows about her Maker with others. 

Talking about true beauty? Let us view or study the imagery of Mary standing at the feet of Jesus while He sat at the table in Simon’s house in Luke 7; Matthew 26; Mark 14. She washed His feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair and poured an expensive perfume on them. The sheer magnitude of her amazing action is an act worship, a feat that angered His disciples who thought what she did was a waste of money, a year’s wages.  

A woman’s true beauty comes from within, a beauty that reflects God’s character, and seeing the good and the worth in those she encounters. True beauty in a woman will enthuse her to acknowledge her needs. She will set healthy boundaries, go after what she desires with boldness and enthusiasm. She will realize and embrace her uniqueness and allow her light to shine while she empowers others to shine as well. 

True beautiful women heed the words of the wisest man in Proverbs 31; 30, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty disappears, but a woman who honors the Lord should be praised.”