What’s Real?

“…Your beauty should not come from outward adornment… Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight”
I Peter 3:3, 4

We live in an “auto-tuned” world. After all, many women wear concealer to perfect, mascara to enhance, and lipstick to brighten. Countless others (male and female) color, highlight, perm, or straighten their hair. Facebook users carefully choose just the “right” picture for their profile, and there are innumerable ways to airbrush and “tweak” photographs to create the best (and most beautiful) magazine layouts. Why, even the most off-key vocalists can sound angelically “pitch perfect” by automatically tuning their voices via a computer program. Keeps us wondering – What’s real?

Perhaps that’s why God gave us Allie. Talk about a toddler to keep things real. Honest. Humble. She asked me the other day about my eyelashes. “Where are dey?” (Not all of us have canopies framing our eyes!) And not so long ago, she innocently said, “Mommy, your ears stick out.” And they do. (Thanks for noticing.) Referring to a pimple, “What’s dat on your face?” “Why’s the skin on your elbow hang-y?” And… “Ew! What’s dat?” pointing to the mole on my cheek.

Freckles. Aging skin. Brittle nails. Crows feet. (“Laugh lines,” I call them.) Let’s face it – physical “realness” isn’t always beautiful.

Thank God (literally), for He looks instead at what’s on the inside, seeing the heart – past the fleshly imperfections, right through to what matters most. David sang of this truth, proclaiming, “… I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Ps. 139:14). And I, too, (though often with a hint of uncertainty) speak these words – not so much because I think God needs reminding but because I know I do. It’s like staking claim to a promise… holding Him to it. You said it. I believe it. That settles it.

Or… at least it should.

And just in case I’m tempted to cross that fine line separating humility and pride, He’s given me Allie. Yet, as often as she may question my many imperfections, she’s just as lavish with her love and affirmation. “You’re da best mommy ever!”

She, too, sees right through – to the heart of me.

And I hear the whisper and know beyond my doubts – I am fearfully and wonderfully made. And, yes – in His image – beautiful.