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You Are Already Beautiful

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I recently watched Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (Amazon) and it was a lovely, “dreams come true” story. The main character in the story, Mrs. Harris, is a light-hearted woman with a lovely disposition. A war widow, she makes her living as a hard working housekeeper for upper class clients. While at one of her clients’ homes, she spies a stunning Dior couture gown hanging in the wardrobe. Instantly, she is entranced by its beauty and resolves to own one someday. She was on a mission!

She scrimps and saves at every opportunity. Finally, she has saved enough to make the trip to Paris to visit the renowned House of Dior. She is ready to make a purchase! She endures a few twists and turns, but as fate would have it, everything falls into place for her. She is seated in the viewing parlor ready to observe a private showing of the beautiful collection of couture dresses.

Spoiler alert…

She purchases a beautiful gown and the process to custom fit her dress begins. She proudly owns a Dior gown! I won't go into the details, but she goes through a few more twists and turns until finally she is able to wear her gown to the local dance in her hometown.

Her lovely Cinderella entrance is dreamy to watch. She is radiant as she enters the ballroom. Her long-time friend Archie is mesmerized by her. He always has been. He’s always had a soft spot for her and doesn’t skip a beat as he begins to speak to her. He tells her how beautiful she is. And the sweet part of the exchange is in what Archie says to her. “The frock, it’s lovely and all…but it’s you. You’re just beautiful…you’ve always been beautiful. Inside and out.”

And this, my friends, is how God sees us. Truly beautiful, just as we are. We don’t need success, the accolades of others, or trendy frocks to make us “seen.” God sees us, right where we are. If only we could realize this. If only we could stop working so hard in “doing,” and simply rest and just be. While a beautiful dress might make us feel good, it is only for a moment. In time, the feeling the dress produces wears off. Our meaning for significance dissolves as time goes on.

We don't need any "thing" to transform us into something more. We just need Jesus. He does the transforming with his love. The truth of who we are comes from our identity in Christ. Our meaning for significance comes from knowing how perfectly loved we are, just as we are! He "purchased" us when he sacrificed his life for us. That's what love is. He didn't think twice about it. He was on a mission to love you. He did this through his death. Death on the cross. All this so you could be HIS.

Mrs. Harris’ dress was made to her proportions. It fit her perfectly. God made us, designed us, created us, perfectly as well. Embrace what he’s given you. Embrace that it’s what is inside of you that makes you beautiful. The Dior gown was authentic and was made solely for Mrs. Harris. It was a one of a kind gown. And you, my friend, are a one of a kind creation as well. Wear it well.

Your turn...

Take a moment to sit in God's presence and take in how He sees you. As a sweet friend once prayed over me...Look at God looking at you.


Spiritual identity means we are not what we do or what people say about us. And we are not what we have. We are the beloved daughters and sons of God.

Henri Nouwen

 

This is how much God loved the world:

He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why:

so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him,

anyone can have a whole and lasting life.

John 3:16 The Message

 

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: 

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;

I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. Jeremiah 31:3

 

“The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.

He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you,

but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:17

 



I would be thrilled if you could join me at the artist's reception at the Buffalo Grove Community Arts Center...

I am honored to have a solo exhibition here on April 26th

6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Please bring a friend!



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