Monday, July 21, 2008

I'm Such A Beautiful Girl (Revisited)

(Due to me fighting a yucky cold and preparing to move to another state...I will be reprinting some of my older posts before more than 10 people read this blog. I will be publishing some new pieces as well, just not as frequently until my family gets settled in Athens)

I'm Such a Beautiful Girl - Originally Published March 3, 2008

A few weeks ago Pumpkindoodle stood in front of my mirrored closet doors awaiting her bath. Uninhibited by clothing she danced and twirled while singing a whimsical song spontaneously created for that moment. “I’m such a beautiful girl. I have a beautiful body, such a wonderful beautiful body. Because God made me and he made my beautiful body. Ohhhh, I have a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, bodeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”

The Professor smiled at me and said, “Do you think she’s going to have some vanity issues?” After initially responding with laughter I shook my head “No, I think she’s going to be just fine. God did make her beautiful and it is lovely how she is still young enough to see that beauty. I hope she never loses this feeling. Unfortunately, this world is going to beat her up one day and then she may sing sad songs.”

It’s my prayer that my sweet baby girl will always see herself as God’s masterpiece. That’s what His omniscient eyes behold when he looks down at her twinkling green peepers and button nose. His wise eyes view me the same way…though I mentally rip apart what he miraculously sewed together.

Make no mistake, vanity is ugly, but self-loathing isn’t any prettier. Both are forms of self obsession and pride. Vanity is looking into a mirror and placing confidence and worth into its reflection. A healthy perspective is looking into that same mirror and seeing the beauty of God’s handiwork. That’s not vanity and it’s not self absorption. It’s relying on the Creator and not in the earthly image of the created. It’s truth, truth found in the Word. Psalm 45:11 reads The King is enthralled by your beauty. Honor Him, for He is your lord.

Is an artist honored if someone throws mud on her painting and labels it trash? Is a writer honored after a critic ridicules her soul dripped prose? How then can God be honored when we scowl at our short noses, complain about not fitting into a ridiculously small size, and hide our smiles fearful that someone will notice our crooked teeth?

I’m not writing this because I have it all together. I’m writing this because I should know better, but I far too often take to heart the words of fashion editors instead of believing the author of the universe. I need only catch a glimmer of a salmon sunset to understand that God knows beauty. And He’s enthralled by mine...how marvelous is that? My daughter knows this and I’m going to pray that she never forgets it. And I’m going to begin praying that my doubt will be penetrated and swept away and what is known in my brain will be lived through my heart.

The next time you look into the mirror take a deep breath and with a childlike faith sing this little ditty to the tune of Jesus Loves me.

“Yes I am beautiful. Yes I am beautiful. Yes I am beautiful my Creator tells me so!”





28 comments:

Unknown said...

We all need to REALLY do this!

Natalie said...

I have to admit too...she IS beautiful :)

Wendi@EveryDayMiracles said...

I love how often God uses our children to teach us important things about ourselves. :) What a great gilr you have!

Michelle said...

Well said. I pray the same for my young daughter.

I think you guys will love Athens. I lived there many years ago. It's a wonderful town for families.

Anonymous said...

we must have been writing at the same time b/c you post showed up just as I was doing my entry for this morning! lol.

I love how children can be free and uninhibited... I really wish we did that more as women!

Happy Monday!

Anne Elizabeth said...

I LOVE psalm 45! God has really used that to minister to me! I hope you feel better soon:)

Jamie said...

"believing the author of the universe"...why is this such a struggle? I loved this post and your daughter, she is a beautiful girl!

Peggy said...

Angela...Sorry that you are not feeling well! And moving besides!

It is nice to see REPEATS especially of ones we love, right?
Who could pass up this adorable girl!

Anyways, there is no time restraint
like deadlines.

I have passed on an award to YOU also. Come over and pick it up!

Your blog BECOMING ME has inspired me many times and you bless so many with your big heart! Since the Blog tour is over...I thought you'd have time but GET WELL 1st!

Jamie {See Jamie blog} said...

Great post, and a great reminder!

Trish said...

How true, and how sad that so many children lose this feeling at too young an age these days.

Hope you feel better soon!

Lizz @ Yes, and So is My Heart said...

I need to pray for the same for my children. What you said is so very true.

Genny said...

Beautiful, Angela. Hope all is well and you are feeling better soon!

christa jean said...

You write with such beauty and description. I love your style!

I needed to read this post on this night. Funny thing is I just began drafting a post on my identity issues and what I hear God speaking to me about them. I loved what you said about self-loathing being self-obsession and pride. I whole heartedly agree and hate that I hate myself! It is a vicious cycle one can get sucked into... but I see the hope of deliverance in Jesus' grace-giving face.

Thanks for popping by my blog! How was I found by you, may I inquire?
I am glad you found me, because now I have found you! ;-D

Mrs.Naz@BecomingMe said...

Hi Christa Jean. I am so glad that this post helped your heart tonight.

Thank you for your encouragement as well.

I am not 100% sure how I found your blog. i do know it was through a blog on which you left a comment. Occasionally after I post a comment, another comment, picture, or name will just jump out at or resonate with me and I check out that person's blog.

Bev Brandon @ The Fray said...

Angela, you are quite the writer! Thank you for your very kind comment and you left it 3 times which means you triply meant it, right? I love your becoming me theme and your blog reminds me of Psalm 50:2
"Perfect in Beauty
God shines forth."

GrandCanyonMom said...

She is beautiful and such captivating photography;)

Seriously, she is a doll! I love how God shows us how He sees us in our own children. I look at my two beautiful girls I begin to see that was once me. I was once so innocent and precious... actually I still am to Him! How I loose sight of that.

Thanks for this post.
Love ya,
Jaim

Elizabeth Byler Younts said...

you've just posted about the perfect balance of how we see ourselves. you are exactly right. i've heard from other families with young children that they don't talk about beauty as much b/c they are afraid that their children will become vain...and i've seen it on more occasions that children are told how beautiful they are and grow up to have a healthier self-esteem and self-worth. Vanity is nothing pretty...but you're right, self-loathing isn't either. :-) well put!

dlyn said...

What a lovely post - I'm glad you are going to bring out some of the older posts from before I found your blog. I watch my grandchildren and often witsh I had their uncomplicated appreciation for all that is around them - including their own reflections. I sure hope I get it back in heaven!

Amy said...

What a beautiful story. Thank you so much for sharing. May we all realize what beauties we are to our creator.

stacey said...

Beautiful post AND Beautiful little girl!!!!
That is awesome what you said about vanity being ugly - but self-loathing isn’t any prettier!!!

Anonymous said...

Such a beautiful story! I hope she can sing that song always.

elizabeth embracing life said...

Yep she is beautiful and a I can testify right now that if she gets God and his divine creation in making her beautiful, she will get it in her teens to. My lovely daughter has never allowed the world to dictate her beauty both inside and out and she once did the naked mirror dance, as we called it.

Angie @ Flibbertigibberish said...

Hope you feel better! You've got too much to do to be sick. :)

What a great post... and she IS a beauty!

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful post. I had a similar experience with my daughter recently, and I plan to post about it, but it won't be as eloquently written as this!

Claremont First Ward said...

Lovely.

Jessica Morris said...

How sweet! I love how children say it like it is :)
My little is just starting to talk. These days it is mainly just "Jesus loves me" ALL day long - whether he's being good, bad, cute, cranky, teething, bathing, eating - he always sings "Jesus loves me" - it's a beautiful reminder!

Alana said...

Love that. I hope she always feels that way.

Lisa Smith said...

It's my first time here and I will be back to read more!!!

I love this post. So often we are made to feel guilty by this world when we are becoming who we were meant to be. I got this so clearly when I saw Chariots of Fire (a loooong time ago) when the main character says that he was made to run and to lose would be to hold God in contempt. I love the freedom we can find in pursuing Christ alone.

I'm praying for you as you move...so much on a plate, I can't imagine, really.

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