God Thinks You're Beautiful

Sitting at my computer, I typed frantically, trying to get the words down before I forgot them.  I was oblivious to everything going on at home.  I needed to get my work done.  My youngest daughter tapped my leg.  She bounced up and down.  "Mom," she said, "Do you know that God thinks you're beautiful?"

I paused for a second.  God thinks I'm beautiful?  I bent down and gently kissed my daughter's forehead.  I felt a smile creep to my lips.  What a wonderful interruption!  What prompted it?

At the moment, I felt neither ugly nor beautiful, but I welcomed the pause.  My other daughter is in middle school, and she would never admit it, but she often feels awkward and gangly.  The girls in her class judge each other ruthlessly.  She agonizes over her clothes and hair and who she will sit with at lunch.   I hope she remembers that God thinks she's beautiful.  I hope that God interrupts her negative thoughts and reminds her that he thinks she's beautiful.  He made her, he loves her, and he thinks she is beautiful.

And on days when I'm feeling ugly, I pray I'll remember that God thinks I'm beautiful.  When I'm short with my kids, God thinks I'm beautiful.  When I'm behind on my chores, God thinks I'm beautiful.  When I compare myself to other moms, God thinks I'm beautiful.  When I over-commit and under-deliver, God thinks I'm beautiful.  When I'm tired and grouchy, God thinks I'm beautiful.  When I am anything but beautiful, God thinks I'm beautiful.

Psalm 139:14
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well. 

I love that verse.  It's a reminder that our duty is to praise God for what he has made.  Each and every one of us is a wonderful work of art.  Let's all be as candid and frank as the toddler:  "Do you know that God thinks you're beautiful?"  Yes, he thinks you're beautiful.  Just the way you are.  You are not defined by your wrinkles, your gray hair, your husband, your job, or your kids.  You are exactly as you should be, wonderful because the one who made you is wonderful, beautiful because the one who made you is beautiful.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this song by Gungor--whenever I need a little reminder.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR7VOKQ0xJY