Let your true beauty shine through with your actions
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."
- 1 Peter 3:3-4 (NIV)
When I was a child, my mother spoke frequently the popular phrase, "Pretty is as pretty does." She wanted me and my siblings to know that our actions made us lovely, not our physical appearance.
We were not ugly children, so my mother was not trying to boost our feelings. She was teaching us the biblical principle that God looks at our hearts. It's the actions we display that come from our heart attitude that concern him.
My mother did not tolerate misbehavior in public, such as throwing temper tantrums in the grocery store to get our way. She made it clear to us this was not good behavior.
We did not have the finest clothes as many parents strive to adorn their children with today, so our beauty had to come from within. We were taught having good manners was an essential part of life in, as well as outside, the home. This was to be displayed by saying "please" and "thank you." Adding a quick smile and a kind spirit was a true mark of outward beauty, too.
Keeping my mother's advice in mind, throughout my life I have encountered and observed how gossip, faultfinding and the use of foul language can make us look ugly.
I have seen how making true beauty a priority has brought promotion and loving relationships.
I still pursue inner beauty. It's a lifelong quest for all of us. It's a choice we make each day with each encounter we have.
Learning to keep our temper under control, overcoming a bitter spirit and banishing negative thoughts from our minds helps us display a gentle nature and the true beauty that shows through our actions.
• Annettee Budzban is a Christina author, inspirational speaker, life coach and nurse. She can be contacted by e-mail at Annetteebudzban@aol.com.