Beauty has no limits.
This weekend I was given the opportunity to volunteer with the Miss Amazing Pageant.
I got to spend the entire day with girls and women that have physical and mental disabilities.
These girls showed me what true beauty looked like.
In our culture, we are so blinded by what the television shows and magazines deem as "beautiful."
Beautiful means flat stomach.
Beautiful means flawless skin.
Beautiful means smart.
Beautiful means long and skinny legs.
Beautiful means perfect hair.
Beautiful means gorgeous eyes.
Beautiful means white, straight teeth.
Beautiful means giving yourself to a guy.
Beautiful means being popular.
Beautiful means being a runway model
Beautiful means being outgoing.
Beautiful means never making a mistake.
Beautiful means being perfect. Perfect. Perfect.
You have to be perfect.
Smile bigger...but not that big.
Wear more makeup...actually---wear less.
Wear a dress. But not too short...and not too long either.
Lose weight. But don't lose too much weight.
Straighten your hair. Well, curls are actually in style this week.
Stand up for yourself. But don't be cocky.
Nobody is perfect---but don't you dare make a mistake.
Be perfect.
Be enough for your family.
Be enough for your friends.
Be enough for your teachers.
Be enough for your boyfriend.
Be enough for your coach.
Be enough for your enemies.
Don't let anyone down.
And don't stop smiling.
Is this a joke? Did you just read that? I'm never going to measure up. I can't please everyone. I can't live up to everyone's standards.
I can't do enough, say enough, or change enough about myself to please everyone in my life.
Sometimes it feels like society is constantly changing it's definition of perfection and beauty, but I'm not getting the memos.
But all the guys around me seem to be getting the memo. They are seeing the standard of beauty everywhere they look. Photoshopped models are plastered on every magazine cover, every website, and every commercial. And they expect me to live up to that? This creates a culture where the guys are more interested in a woman's body than a woman's heart. And once a woman gives herself away to a man in order to feel beautiful...the guy leaves. And she's left feeling used, broken and abandoned. Because as ladies, we expect guys to make us feel beautiful. But when they fail us, our entire world crashes. Our entire self-worth crashes. We wonder who we are. We wonder why we aren't enough for them. We wonder how we could make ourselves be more beautiful and then we start chasing after the wind, once again.
So, most guys are looking for women based on outward beauty. And this seems absurd. But is it really so absurd when we, as ladies spend more time tending to our outward appearance than our inner beauty.
We are far more concerned with dressing the part outwardly...rather than letting the fruits of the spirit shine from within. Makeup, high heels and manicures are more important that love, joy and peace.
We are far more concerned with seeming perfect...rather than letting our true self shine.
We are far more concerned with having the perfect face...rather than letting Christ's perfection shine.
We are far more concerned with measuring up to a guy's standard of beauty...rather than letting Christ be our standard.
We are far more concerned with having the pretty face, the pretty clothes, the pretty hair, the pretty nails...rather than letting Christ cultivate true inner beauty.
You are going to attract a man based on the beauty that you are putting on display.
If you are flaunting your booty---then expect a booty call.
If you are loving with Christ's love---then expect to be loved with Christ's love.
1 Samuel 16:7 says, "For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."
Each of the girls at the Miss Amazing Pageant showed me something different about what true beauty looks like:
True beauty is hugging (squeezing) a person that you've never met before and showing them that they matter.
True beauty is laughing at yourself when you make a mistake and realizing that it's okay.
True beauty is being willing to befriend any person that you come into contact with.
True beauty is cheering everyone on, even those that you're competing against.
True beauty is wrestling someone to the ground because you want to be their friend.
True beauty is having the courage to walk in front of hundreds of people, despite any disability.
True beauty is helping another contestant conquer her fear and walking with her onstage.
True beauty is telling someone that you love them 100 times, so they won't forget it.
True beauty is smiling when you're happy and crying when you're sad.
True beauty is allowing yourself to be real with those that are around you, even if they may judge you.
True beauty is wearing any dress that you want because you love it and want to wear it.
True beauty is still being happy if you don't win the biggest prize, and hugging the person that does win.
True beauty is holding hands of those that are different than you.
True beauty is dancing because it's fun, even if you don't think you know how to dance.
True beauty is standing in front of hundreds of people and speaking, even with a speech disability.
True beauty is laughing, loving, dancing, singing, joking, spinning, having fun, being real, making friends, being courageous, trusting others, taking leaps of faith, and loving others with no reservation.
True beauty radiates from these girls. And I want to be just like them someday.
I went to serve at the Miss Amazing Pageant---but I ended up being the one that walked away being served by the dozens of girls that I had the pleasure of hanging out with. This post is dedicated to them. Beauty has no limits. Special shout-out to Morgan, Anette, L'eondre, Carly, Ally, Abby, Ashley, Sy'Rai, Natalie, Maddison, MacKenzie, Hannah, and Natalie. These ladies truly are amazing.
I pray that all of the girls in the Miss Amazing pageant recognize how beautiful they are---both inwardly and outwardly. And I pray the same for you.
The Lord thinks you are beautiful just the way you are. In fact, He designed you. He is captivated by your beauty. He is in love with your body. He thinks that you have so much worth---that He sent His son to die for your sake. He loves you with a love that no one else---not even the "perfect guy"---will be able to love you with. He satisfies your every longing. He is pleased with you. And He thinks you are very, very beautiful. You don't have to keep striving for beauty. You don't have to keep looking for ways to fix yourself. You don't have to keep comparing yourself to the models in the magazines. The Lord looks at you and sees His beautiful creation.
Don't focus on creating an outer beauty---focus on cultivating an inner beauty that glorifies the Lord and shines from the inside-out.
"Authentic beauty may very well be one of the rarest earthly treasures today. It holds a magnetism far beyond the loveliness of a properly painted face, and it possesses a charm that towers over the enchanting grace of a sweet personality. It is not ever to be discovered in the pomp and polish of high society, nor in the silk and satin of those conformed to popular culture. Rather, it emerges only rarely in each generation, and that in the life of a young woman---a young woman who is deeply loved by the Prince of her soul." Leslie Ludy
You don't have to continue striving for perfection---for the perfect One finds you beautiful.
In His Love,
Hayley
I got to spend the entire day with girls and women that have physical and mental disabilities.
These girls showed me what true beauty looked like.
In our culture, we are so blinded by what the television shows and magazines deem as "beautiful."
Beautiful means flat stomach.
Beautiful means flawless skin.
Beautiful means smart.
Beautiful means long and skinny legs.
Beautiful means perfect hair.
Beautiful means gorgeous eyes.
Beautiful means white, straight teeth.
Beautiful means giving yourself to a guy.
Beautiful means being popular.
Beautiful means being a runway model
Beautiful means being outgoing.
Beautiful means never making a mistake.
Beautiful means being perfect. Perfect. Perfect.
You have to be perfect.
Smile bigger...but not that big.
Wear more makeup...actually---wear less.
Wear a dress. But not too short...and not too long either.
Lose weight. But don't lose too much weight.
Straighten your hair. Well, curls are actually in style this week.
Stand up for yourself. But don't be cocky.
Nobody is perfect---but don't you dare make a mistake.
Be perfect.
Be enough for your family.
Be enough for your friends.
Be enough for your teachers.
Be enough for your boyfriend.
Be enough for your coach.
Be enough for your enemies.
Don't let anyone down.
And don't stop smiling.
Is this a joke? Did you just read that? I'm never going to measure up. I can't please everyone. I can't live up to everyone's standards.
I can't do enough, say enough, or change enough about myself to please everyone in my life.
Sometimes it feels like society is constantly changing it's definition of perfection and beauty, but I'm not getting the memos.
But all the guys around me seem to be getting the memo. They are seeing the standard of beauty everywhere they look. Photoshopped models are plastered on every magazine cover, every website, and every commercial. And they expect me to live up to that? This creates a culture where the guys are more interested in a woman's body than a woman's heart. And once a woman gives herself away to a man in order to feel beautiful...the guy leaves. And she's left feeling used, broken and abandoned. Because as ladies, we expect guys to make us feel beautiful. But when they fail us, our entire world crashes. Our entire self-worth crashes. We wonder who we are. We wonder why we aren't enough for them. We wonder how we could make ourselves be more beautiful and then we start chasing after the wind, once again.
So, most guys are looking for women based on outward beauty. And this seems absurd. But is it really so absurd when we, as ladies spend more time tending to our outward appearance than our inner beauty.
We are far more concerned with dressing the part outwardly...rather than letting the fruits of the spirit shine from within. Makeup, high heels and manicures are more important that love, joy and peace.
We are far more concerned with seeming perfect...rather than letting our true self shine.
We are far more concerned with having the perfect face...rather than letting Christ's perfection shine.
We are far more concerned with measuring up to a guy's standard of beauty...rather than letting Christ be our standard.
We are far more concerned with having the pretty face, the pretty clothes, the pretty hair, the pretty nails...rather than letting Christ cultivate true inner beauty.
You are going to attract a man based on the beauty that you are putting on display.
If you are flaunting your booty---then expect a booty call.
If you are loving with Christ's love---then expect to be loved with Christ's love.
1 Samuel 16:7 says, "For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."
Each of the girls at the Miss Amazing Pageant showed me something different about what true beauty looks like:
True beauty is hugging (squeezing) a person that you've never met before and showing them that they matter.
True beauty is laughing at yourself when you make a mistake and realizing that it's okay.
True beauty is being willing to befriend any person that you come into contact with.
True beauty is cheering everyone on, even those that you're competing against.
True beauty is wrestling someone to the ground because you want to be their friend.
True beauty is having the courage to walk in front of hundreds of people, despite any disability.
True beauty is helping another contestant conquer her fear and walking with her onstage.
True beauty is telling someone that you love them 100 times, so they won't forget it.
True beauty is smiling when you're happy and crying when you're sad.
True beauty is allowing yourself to be real with those that are around you, even if they may judge you.
True beauty is wearing any dress that you want because you love it and want to wear it.
True beauty is still being happy if you don't win the biggest prize, and hugging the person that does win.
True beauty is holding hands of those that are different than you.
True beauty is dancing because it's fun, even if you don't think you know how to dance.
True beauty is standing in front of hundreds of people and speaking, even with a speech disability.
True beauty is laughing, loving, dancing, singing, joking, spinning, having fun, being real, making friends, being courageous, trusting others, taking leaps of faith, and loving others with no reservation.
True beauty radiates from these girls. And I want to be just like them someday.
I went to serve at the Miss Amazing Pageant---but I ended up being the one that walked away being served by the dozens of girls that I had the pleasure of hanging out with. This post is dedicated to them. Beauty has no limits. Special shout-out to Morgan, Anette, L'eondre, Carly, Ally, Abby, Ashley, Sy'Rai, Natalie, Maddison, MacKenzie, Hannah, and Natalie. These ladies truly are amazing.
I pray that all of the girls in the Miss Amazing pageant recognize how beautiful they are---both inwardly and outwardly. And I pray the same for you.
The Lord thinks you are beautiful just the way you are. In fact, He designed you. He is captivated by your beauty. He is in love with your body. He thinks that you have so much worth---that He sent His son to die for your sake. He loves you with a love that no one else---not even the "perfect guy"---will be able to love you with. He satisfies your every longing. He is pleased with you. And He thinks you are very, very beautiful. You don't have to keep striving for beauty. You don't have to keep looking for ways to fix yourself. You don't have to keep comparing yourself to the models in the magazines. The Lord looks at you and sees His beautiful creation.
Don't focus on creating an outer beauty---focus on cultivating an inner beauty that glorifies the Lord and shines from the inside-out.
"Authentic beauty may very well be one of the rarest earthly treasures today. It holds a magnetism far beyond the loveliness of a properly painted face, and it possesses a charm that towers over the enchanting grace of a sweet personality. It is not ever to be discovered in the pomp and polish of high society, nor in the silk and satin of those conformed to popular culture. Rather, it emerges only rarely in each generation, and that in the life of a young woman---a young woman who is deeply loved by the Prince of her soul." Leslie Ludy
You don't have to continue striving for perfection---for the perfect One finds you beautiful.
In His Love,
Hayley
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