Much of our society—in particular, what is distributed through mass communication, including social media—is focused on what is perceived as beautiful. As I am a woman, I’ll just speak to what I know personally and let someone else speak for men.

For girls and women there are endless cosmetics for enhancing the beauty of the face. Liquid foundation and powder, even with glitter. Eyelash serums and extensions. Eye liner in a multitude of colors. Lip-defining liner. Lip gloss. Fingernail and toenail polish. Blush for the cheeks. Hair color and extensions. Temporary, semi-permanent, and permanent refinements to ‘natural beauty.’ And female body ‘improvements’ boast an equally lengthy list.

Females are targeted so effectively in our society that self-perception of ugliness and anxiety over body imperfections are prevalent. I do think there is a difference between wanting to be attractive and obsessing over the details of grooming. I wanted to ‘look nice’ even when I was young. After all, one of my grandmothers was what we called an ‘Avon Lady.’ But the only cosmetic she introduced me to at an early age was lipstick through the tiny samples she distributed to her clients.

An axiom concerning beauty states: “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” And I know there is one beholder who outweighs all the rest. That beholder is God.

In the very first book of The Holy Bible, I can read and witness through His Holy Word all God’s creation—heavens and earth; day and night; sky, land, and seas; vegetation; sun, moon, and stars; fish, fowl, livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals. And how did all this look to Him? The Scriptures say, “And God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:9, Genesis 1:12, Genesis 1:15, Genesis 1:25). Finally, He created human beings and Genesis 1:31 in summation says, “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.” So, in my Father’s eye, my appearance is “good,” or even “very good.”

As being born continues for all of God’s creation every day, keep in mind that God sees you as beautiful. Don’t let others drag you down through their tasteless comments or bullying. Get help from a trusted confidant, as you need to, and keep on being beautiful.

Finding Beauty Series
#2 What is Beauty?
Connie Carlisle Polley, 2023
ConnieCarlislePolley.com
NonnyDay.com