Sunday, October 02, 2011

Days of Beauty: What I'm Not Saying

I think it is important to just say right up front a few things that I'm not implying or saying about beauty. Because this is such a deep topic for me - I think I want to defend beauty.

But, an unhealthy love of beauty is just that: unhealthy. Beauty cannot save us, cannot forgive us, cannot make most things right. And, like most things - when we have too much of something it becomes bad for us not good.

And, I don't think it is healthy or even realistic to focus on beauty exclusively.

Consider this ~ Isaiah 53:2b, "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him."

I hope you're hearing my heart here - I do love beauty. But, I do not love it more than God. And, I want to be careful not to let beauty become a judge over my heart. Not to let my eyes be ruled by beauty, but allow them to be blessed by beauty.

Do you see the difference?

Another good reminder is this:

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." ~ Proverbs 31:30

Beauty doesn't last - we know that. A sunset captures our attention and fills our eyes with beauty and then in mere moments is gone. That particular sunset will never come again. A flower blooms and we enjoy its beauty which is also short lived.

Even when we create beauty around us - clutter happens, laundry piles up, dishes don't wash themselves. Beauty requires effort and then it is just for a time or season.

I don't want my ultimate goal in life to be physical beauty and I'm planning to touch on our inner beauty as well because I cannot talk about beauty and not go there! It is too important!

As I said yesterday, beauty in itself is not an end all - it is a means to extending grace, hope and love. A blessing wrapped up and given to ourselves, to our families, to others around us and yes, even an act of worship given back to God.

Now, with that out of the way ~ I hope you'll be back tomorrow for Making Your Home a Haven week!

5 comments:

Dana M said...

Well said!! :)

Jen said...

Dear Friend,
I'm SO glad you wrote all this! Beauty is definitely something that "frustrates" me at times because it IS fleeting. I can appreciate beauty in many of the sacred mundane things of our days filled with Littles- but "creating" it myself seems so full of effort, that many times I lack the energy or desire to make it happen! I certainly SEE it, but lack the drive to do it myself. So glad you defended beauty! I'm eager to hear what you have to say!

Nancy at EmbroideryIt.com said...

Monica, I've been enjoying your last two posts on beauty. Your words are of wisdom and very true. A little beauty in our home brings a smile to my children and husband and it makes our family glad to be HOME. Not only that, my friends children want to be here too! That is a true blessing that is, because sadly, many of their friends come from broken and unbleieving homes so to be able to reach out to these teenagers because they want to be here, because they feel welcome and my house is a place of comfort and beauty is an opportunity I want to grab. Thanks for sharing your heart. Blessings,
Nancy

Anonymous said...

This post was a blessing: ) Christy S.

Davonne said...

I love this! I tend to get stressed out and overwhelmed if I try to do too many things (and right now I have a goal of having a quiet and peaceful heart), but I am definitely planning on incorporating a few of the simpler things you mentioned into our afternoon.

Thank you for sharing.