In a world full of pictures and celebrities, a gal can easily feel the lies that say she’s not quite enough. Not put together enough. Not beautiful enough. Not thin enough. Not enough. When I was dancing professionally, there was no social media. The only pictures I saw of other dancers were in my monthly Pointe Magazine. (which I loved by the way!) I can’t really imagine what you gals now, specifically you dancing gals, are battling day in and day out as you see so much via social media. But I feel it maybe not as a dancer anymore, but as a woman, a mom, a human. It can be fun to see what all is going on in the world outside of our own world, but I know too, that it can also feel disheartening to see so much. And often I wonder, Were our souls made to take in so much? And I know for a lot of gals, the beautiful pictures can cause us to be hard on ourselves.
Ballet life, while I absolutely loved it, was also strenuous on my heart after a while. It was difficult to break free from the constant pressure to keep a toned, lean body. Now that I’m in my late 30’s, I’m actually really enjoying being more gentle on my body physically and more kind to myself mentally. I’m enjoying walks in the outdoors instead of rigorous hours at the ballet barre. I’m enjoying being kind to my soul, by recognizing when I begin to think negatively about my body in some way, and instead, hand over that thought to God, reminding my heart that He made me. But still, sometimes the lies creep in that thinness, or more stylish clothes, or a more toned body, or better hair (you name it) will somehow satisfy my heart. And I still sometimes get wrapped up in the keeping up. The trying to be better or different than I am. Often, lately, I find myself just craving to be me in a world that says you have to be better, and better, and better.
There is relief in embracing me. And for you, there is relief in embracing you. The words in 1 Peter 3:3 remind us,
“Do not let your adorning (outward appearance/beauty) be external – the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear – but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.”
I don’t believe Peter is saying we shouldn’t braid our hair (who doesn’t love a cute side braid!) or wear gold jewelry (this girl loves the color gold!) or to not wear cute clothes (we love cute clothes!), but what he’s saying is much deeper than what we can see. He is saying that true beauty comes from deep within our hearts. And true beauty from within, never fades, in fact, I believe it only grows more beautiful with age. I think true beauty comes from knowing we are so loved by our Creator and by embracing the way He made us. True beauty doesn’t have a price tag. True beauty is when a gal owns who she is. She’s herself. She wears what makes her feel beautiful, and that may look different from the rest of the crowd. She exercises the way that’s life-giving to her, and that too may look different from the rest of the crowd. She notices when she’s believing a lie about herself and learns to take that thought to God. She remembers that she was made in God’s image. (Gen. 1:27) And when she starts to feel the pressure to be better, look better, etc., she takes a pause. And she learns to give herself grace. She learns to take her eyes off the external and remember that what’s going on on the inside is where her true glow and beauty will come from. Grace moment by grace moment, she learns to be kind to herself, to love the skin she’s in, and to embrace her Maker’s unique design that He gave her.
She doesn’t do this perfectly. She’s still learning. Still growing. Still stumbling on her way sometimes. But she’s learning to keep her eyes on Jesus in a world full of a lot of wonderful and beautiful pictures, celebrities, and information. She’s learning to nourish her beauty from the inside out.
Questions for Your Heart:
In what ways do you get down about your own beauty?
What would it look like to be kind to your body, mind, and soul today?
What lies about who you are or what you look need to go?
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