Beauty Misconception: Other Women
"Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else." (Galatians 6:4b)
Anyone woman can look around a room with other woman in it and find one that she believes is more beautiful than she is. We are quick to compare ourselves to one another. It is easy for us to see the beauty in other women, but when it comes to seeing it in ourselves, we often become blind. We are quick to praise others for their beauty, but one glance in the mirror and our minds remind us that we are not really beautiful.
How sad it must make our Lord, that we would use other women as a measuring stick for the beauty of HIS creative work in us. How sad it must make Him, that we fail to see that our beauty is beyond compare. He made us and fashioned us, who are we to say that HIS creation doesn't measure up to the competition? We have created a mentality of comparison, because we feel the need to look to someone else to affirm our beauty.
St. John Paul II the Great, said, "When you wonder about the mystery of yourself, look to Christ, who gives you the meaning of life." There is only one person we need to look to when we wonder about our beauty. Comparing ourselves to one another is not constructive and it doesn't help us to live true beauty. If we compare ourselves to someone, let it be Christ. Let us find the meaning in our lives in Him, and imitate his holiness, wherein we will become truly beautiful.
Each of us was created with a unique mystery and beauty. God has a unique plan for each soul that He creates. We will each serve Him and fulfill the mission of His kingdom in a slightly different way, as we all have different gifts and talents to share. The beauty He gave us is not comparable, there will never be another beauty quite like ours.
Let us focus on Christ and the beauty within. What if we could break the comparison mentality by affirming the interior beauty of one another? In my own life, I have noticed that the first thing women usually say to one another is a compliment about her hair, clothes, etc. It is not bad for us to give one another compliments, but what if we made a point to compliment the beauty of the interior person more than the exterior? If we affirm the virtues that we admire in other women, we will both help them to build confidence in their true beauty, and be inspired ourselves to live true beauty.
When we understand how uniquely beautiful God created us and seek to live virtue, then we can embody this Scripture:
"Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else."
Today's Challenge:
Affirm the inner beauty of a woman you see today by complimenting her virtue.
Today's Prayer:
Heavenly Father, you have created me unique with beauty beyond compare. Please help me to believe in my own beauty. Rid me of the need to compare myself to other women. May I find my identity in Christ and live holiness. Transform my mind and heart to live true beauty. Amen.
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