Proverbs 31:30 “Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.”

Most women want not only to look beautiful, but to feel beautiful. And there’s nothing wrong with that as long as we remember that the inner beauty of our character will continue to shine long after outward beauty has begun to fade away. Wrinkles are unavoidable. Luckily, true beauty isn’t rooted in appearance but in the invisible aspects of our identity.

The ideal woman depicted in Proverbs 31 embraces her own identity and gifts, and carries herself with dignity. She is a woman of courage, who speaks the truth and does not allow fear to rule her life. She spends time in reflection and prayer, allowing God to impart his wisdom to her so that she will not make foolish choices. She demonstrates kindness to those around her, whether they are likeable or not. These are the attributes of true and lasting beauty, and any one of us can achieve them regardless of our height or weight.

Ladies, do we spend as much time cultivating our inner beauty as we do fussing about our looks? Why don’t you add a new step to your beauty regime? While you’re applying your make-up, reflect on your character growth. Ask God to reveal any hidden ugliness within you so that it can become a target area for improvement. Inner beauty requires work, too.

P.S. Next week we’ll talk about the ideal man. That should be fun.

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14 NKJV.

The human body is an amazingly complex mechanism. The brain intrigues me with its many functions and abilities, some of which we are still in the process of discovering. The nervous system is another example of an intricate and ingenious work of art. But let’s be honest here, cellulite and stretch marks are more “fearful” than they are “wonderful.” I mean, do you know anyone who’s ever been awed and inspired by them?

After confessing my love affair with M&M’s, it only seemed appropriate to discuss a related topic: body issues. Did I mention that I have a whole tub of clothes that no longer fit? I’m saving them for when and if I ever lose the weight, or more likely, when they’ll fit my daughter in two years.

Have you ever thought about the amount of time and money women invest into being beautiful? The manicures/pedicures, hair coloring and cutting, the products and devices for styling, the make-up and skin care regime… Whew! It’s a lot of work. Then, we have to reduce our carbs and increase our exercise and in the end, we still aren’t pleased with our appearance. Meanwhile, men shower and shave. Ok, I guess they might have body issues too. So they have to diet and exercise--it’s still less work!

It just seems to me that this struggle to be beautiful is a self-defeating cycle. Some women are naturally beautiful, and some of us do the best we can and will never resemble those gorgeous, tall, skinny celebrities. So what? Maybe that’s not the end of the world.

We are all God’s creations, and we are fearfully and wonderfully made. He’s not concerned with the outward appearance that others might judge us by. God looks at the true person hidden within the shelter of the human body. He invested himself into our existence, our construction, and he was pleased with the accomplishment. It’s ok to devote some time to hygiene and style; in fact, it’s an expression of our self-respect. But let’s be careful not to get sucked into false expectations that set us up for self-depreciating attitudes.

Anyone else guilty as charged?

Let’s take this week to meditate on the loving hand which designed us. When God looks at us, he doesn’t notice the big pointed nose or the muffin roll. He just sees your heart and accepts you for who you are. Can you do the same? Can you accept and love yourself even if you’re not a runway model?

Today, I would like to celebrate the wonderful, healing aspects of M&M’s. I cannot tell you what the secret ingredient is in these delightful little candies that gives me an automatic sense of peace and well-being, but I can only testify to their potency. Peppermint Patties are good too, but when I feel down, I self-medicate with a big bag of old-fashioned plain M&M’s.

A good friend of mine commented on the irony of my blog name. She has known me for at least fifteen years and remembers the time I won a contest by estimating the number of M&M’s in a jar. Meditations & Musings could easily be nick-named M&M’s. How appropriate!

But the truth is the medicinal properties of M&M’s is highly disputable and there is a better way to deal with depression and anxiety: trusting God. It’s calorie free and has no negative side effects. I love my candy coated chocolates that melt in my mouth and not in my hand, but I have a container full of clothes in my closet that used to fit me three years ago. Trusting in God will give me a sense of peace and well-being that won’t take me up another size.

While it may feel like my supervisor, big boss, the president, the economy, etc. is in control of my life, they’re not. They may make decisions that effect my situation, but God directs my destiny. Nothing that happens takes him by surprise. He loves me and desires the very best for me, and sometimes that means insecurity and unpleasant changes. I don’t have to like it; but I do have to trust him and be grateful for the ways he has blessed me.

So I’m going to kneel in prayer instead of reaching for my favorite brown candy bag.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT).

How do you deal with your stress?