Beauty As We Don't See It

Today as I was getting dressed, I pulled out my brand new pair of jeans and as I was putting them on I noticed there was a little inscription on the inside "Aged With Love". Needless to say, I was a bit surprised. Before their life with me had even begun they were tossed with a handful of stones into a washer to make them more appear OLDER and therefore, more beautiful. They have wrinkles sewn permanently into the seams, with little tucks and scrapes here and there to make them appear used. And that is what makes them so desirable. What?! Who saw THAT coming?!

How sadly contradictory that is to real life. People everywhere are striving to be THE hottest, most youthful looking person they know, no matter the consequences. Reality Shows are getting amazing popularity by transforming "the weakest most wrinkled looking person" into "the strongest most youthful looking person", but they forget the most important part. While they are training, tucking, polishing and pulling at these sad, heartbroken people, they are forgetting about their hearts, their dreams, their life as it should be. While we are wasting our time trying to fix the flaws of our bodies, our dreams are wasting away deep inside of us and we are losing sight of what really matters. What does really matter? Isn't life just about getting through it with the least amount of trouble possible? No, I realize that it isn't. Our relationship with the one true God and our relationships with the people in our lives are what really matter. No matter how much pain LOVE costs us, it is still worth it in the end. No matter how hard we try to make ourselves beautiful on the outside, it's the inside the counts. Why can't we see ourselves like we see jeans? The older and the more wrinkled, the better!

There are so many different styles of jeans, but the most popular are the "aged" ones. Here a few examples I've seen of how designer's have used "age" to get people to buy their jeans.

-"Limited edition. Destroyed and deconstructed. Premium vintage wash on lightweight denim. This jean is fitted through the hip and thigh for an allover sexy silhouette."

"Tried and true blue. Stretch fabric and classic 5-pocket styling create a comfortable jean that conforms to your body while still giving you room to move. The dark true blue stretch denim has been whiskered and treated with subtle abrasion and sandblasting."

"Bleached-out and broken-in. Tried and true blue. The AE Hipster Skinny Flare Jean has been destroyed for a lived-in style that looks like you've had them for years. Holes down front leg and thigh.

Why isn't our value rated the same way? Age used to be looked on with respect and admiration. To be aged was to be beautiful! My Grandma T is is one of the most beautiful people I know, her face has laugh-lines, her skin is wrinkled and lovely. She has been "treated with subtle abrasion and sandblasting", spiritually and physically, and has come out beautifully. She has been "aged", she beautiful because she has a kind and gentle heart, because she is loving and is loved. When you look at her you see character and beauty, and it is real.

I want to be like that someday! I also want to look at people and rate them by their inner beauty and strength, rather then their outer appearance and strength. Beauty really does "come from the heart!"

I Want to be a Princess

I want to be a princess

Will you be my prince?

I want to be a princess

I really don't want a frog

I want a someone who will love me

As no one else ever could

I want someone who will protect me

And stay true like he should

I want someone who will be a friend

Who will never break my heart

I want someone who will pursue me

Not tear my dreams apart

I just want to be a princess

Why is that so hard?

Yesterday I met Him

He is valiant, amazing and strong

And I know that He is real

He has been there all along

He fought the wild dragon

He saved me from certain death

He gave me beauty from ashes

He has given me a heart fullfilled

Today I became His princess

And oh, He loves me so

As no man ever has

As no man ever will

Someday I will see His face

His wonderful, sincere grin

He says He’s coming very soon

And those who love him will definitely win

He’ll rescue as a hero

As a champion to save our lives

With all my heart I know this is true

For He has never told a lie