Are You Pretty Yet?

My two year old son loves to tell me and his big sisters that we look pretty. But have no fear, I promise not to let it go to my head.  In his sweet and charming way, he keeps me humble.  As I was getting ready for church on Sunday, he periodically came to check on me.  He rummaged through my bathroom drawer, applied his lip balm and went back to playing.  A few minutes later, he returned and asked, “Are you pretty yet?”    I wanted to reply, “This is as good as it gets. What do you think?”  Instead I decided to play it safe and simply said, “Almost.”

 Immediately, two thoughts came to mind.  First, although I may have to work harder than others to achieve physical beauty, my heavenly Father thinks I’m beautiful just as He made me. He created you and me and deemed all of His creation is good.  And as dearly loved children, I have to think that He views us as better than just good.  We think our own kids are adorable so we dress them up, take pictures of them, share our pictures with our friends, scrapbook our cute pictures of our cute kids… Don’t you think that God feels the same way about us? Although His standard of beauty may be different than ours, I absolutely believe that He delights in us.

 The second thought that popped into my head was that I’m a work in progress.  As much as I grow and learn and strive to be who God wants me to be, the truth is that I’ll never fully arrive.  That’s not meant as discouragement – quite the contrary.  It should encourage us that we’re always able to grow and that God never gives up on us.   His gives us the perfect tool for teaching us: His Word. If we study it, digest it and practice it, the Bible will indeed produce positive change. I challenge you to seek God in knowing how He wants you to grow – and then give Him permission to work in those areas of your life.  God’s hand in our lives always produces blessing.  Embrace His refining tools, even if makes you squirm.

 He who began a good work in you will carry it out to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

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