True Beauty

I think I'm pmsing.

I stayed up late to catch NieNie on Oprah last night.

As I think back to different parts of the interview, I keep welling up in tears. There's something life changing just looking at them. Her looks defy literal description, but the only words that I could imagine as I looked at her with her husband Christian were "beautiful", "queenly", "graceful".

It's hard to imagine how it is possible that a person with 80% of her body covered in scars and burns could exude such light and beauty, but she does.

I feel overwhelmed with the gift of sight. More than that, I feel that everyone else sees the exact same thing that I see. I'm overwhelmed with the power of true beauty.

I think of my own insecurities, my need to be thinner, to be prettier. We're surrounded by influences that make us feel less than who we are. When we believe them, regardless of our literal beauty, we exude a homely quality. But, if we allow ourselves to feel the innate, indestructible beauty of our souls--our loveliness will outshine any mortal flaws.

Proverbs 31:

10 ¶ Who can find a ^avirtuous ^bwoman? for her price is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband doth safely ^atrust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her ^ahands.

14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

15 She ^ariseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the ^adistaff.

20 She stretcheth out her hand to the ^apoor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her ^aclothing is silk and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

25 Strength and honour are her ^aclothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of ^akindness.

27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of ^aidleness.

28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

30 Favour is deceitful, and ^abeauty is vain: but a woman that ^bfeareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.