“Am I pretty?”

Julia asks me this question on a near daily basis. She is figuring out the world around her, figuring out what she considers pretty {or beautiful} and wants to know how she compares. “Am I pretty like this flower, mama? Am I pretty like this dress, mama? Am I truly pretty?”

Each time she asks, I answer with a resounding “YES! You are beautiful!”. But I don’t stop there. I tell her why she’s beautiful.

She’s kind. She’s thoughtful. She’s smart. She’s great at encouragement. She’s obedient. She’s funny.

These are the things that make her pretty.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised. Proverbs 31:30

“Am I pretty?”

{photo credit}

I realize how often I ask this question, it just comes in different forms. “Am I thin enough? Am I attractive enough? Am I good enough? Am I truly pretty?”

While running the half marathon, I spent the whole time listening to a series our church did on idols. Every person has an idol in the life; something they value more than God; something that they desire above all else. I realized one of my idols is my body {or imagine}. I’ve listened to what the world says about women and bought their lies. I’ve ignored the truth.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised.

The problem with idols is that they leave you hollow. Empty and longing for more. Even if you achieve what you desire, it will not give you what you want. A runner’s body will not make me happy, it will not take away self doubt, it will not make me feel confident, it will not make me feel loved.

I’ve been taking time this week to really lay my imagine idol before the Lord. It’s hard. There is nearly 30 years of wrong thinking I am trying to undo. Lies I am having to let go. But finally, I don’t want my body to come first. I don’t want that idea of who I should be, to take precedence over who I am meant to be.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised.

When I am old and grey, I want my kids to say “Our mom was a woman who feared the Lord.” I don’t want there to be something in my life, something so fleeting, so empty, that it takes away my joy, my contentment, my identity in Christ.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised.

I won’t always remember that fearing God is greater than worldly beauty. But daily I will challenge myself to cling to God’s truth and promises. This world is deceptive and does not last, but fear of the Lord will bring me praise.