Beauty is Only Skin Deep

I have been giving a lot of thought to how I look lately. It isn't only the weight issue, but an age issue also. As I peer into the mirror, I am often surprised at who is looking back. After much thought I have concluded that I need to focus more on what the world really sees instead of just the superficial.

In today's society it is our looks that count the most. We are constantly encouraged to focus on ourselves and how we appear. This has become the focus of everything we see and hear. We are pressured from others, from advertising and by our own self image, to look as good as we can. The measure of who we are and what we are worth is placed in how we look.

But these things are nothing compared to how we really look on the inside. We may shine from without, but our inner person may for the most part be filled with all the ugliness of the world. Our whole nature may not be a pretty sight, but there is hope. There is a small part in each of us that remains enough like our creator that with some effort can push it's way to the outside to be revealed as God's shining glory.

It begins by admitting we have those things within us that are unpleasing to our Lord and accepting Him into our life. With the presence and the conviction of the Holy Spirit, we are then ready for the process of becoming the beautiful person God has always intended us to be. Not a superficial beauty, but a deep beauty that goes to the very heart of our souls. One that others will see and want.

Much like plastic surgery, it can be a very painful process at times, but the end product is magnificent. The mighty surgeon carefully cuts, snips, tucks and in the end all the junk of the world is slowly cut away leaving a fresh new you. This is an ongoing process which slowly restores us to what we were intended to look like from the very beginning.

We must be careful not to let ourselves become artificial in the process. Don't think you can get by with making yourself look good forever. God knows your heart. You can put on a good face, but it is what the Spirit has done on the inside that truly counts.

As the Word of God says in Proverbs 31:30, Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

Overload

Actually I should start this out by saying that I have miraculously lost another 2 lbs. Yeah for me. It has been hard, but at least there was a small reward at the end so I won't complain, well too much.

If nothing else, I have learned this past week that my body doesn't really really like fried foods. In a moment of 'I am too tired to cook,' we went to a local fish place to eat. Of course this place specializes in good ol' fried fish and chips. I not only ate 'fried' fish and chips, but because of a generous young man in the check out line, I took full advantage of the 'All You Can Eat' coupon he shared with us. Did dieting cross my mind? NO. All I could think was I am hungry and I get all I can eat. So I did. I did manage to get control of myself somewhat and stopped when I was really full instead of really really full. It wasn't until we were headed home that the reality of what I had just eaten hit me.

It didn't hit me in the fact I had just eaten a billion calories and fats. It hit me where it hurt. It was a good thing the family went to bed early so they didn't have to listen to my moans and groans. Was I sorry? Yes. Will I do it again? Probably because I am just a little stupid that way. Of course it won't be right away, but enough time will pass that the call of the greasy fried food of some sort will call my name and off I will go because it is the easy way out.

However, I am proud of myself that just last night I did not succumb to my weakness. My husband and I had a night alone and were going to go out for dinner. The more I thought about it the more I just couldn't think of a thing that sounded that good out there. We stayed home and I cooked a healthy dinner and have healthy leftovers for lunch. Pat on the back for me. I might actually get the hang of this yet. It has only taken me 40 years or so.

I do wish it would come off faster, but then I didn't put in on in a week. Slow and steady. Keeping the rules (well most of the time). I have to read my own blog to remember what they are. Maybe eating healthier will help my memory too. That is another story.