As many of you know by now, a few weeks ago Kiersten got braces. She will still need some stuff done on her mouth, but it's all good. After getting them on, she didn't want to look at them and looked at me a little teary and said " mommy, they're so UGLY!", it almost broke my heart. However, after reminding her that teeth do not the woman make and that she is truly beautiful inside and out, I started thinking about what true beauty is.
In the world's view, beautiful people are those stick thin model types with perfect hair, teeth and lose baby fat in a matter of weeks. Those people make me want to puke. There are few and far between "regular" or "plus sized" people that are considered beautiful in the eyes of the world. We look at the world's beautiful people and think, man, what I wouldn't give for her hair, butt, boobs, face, house, clothes, seemingly perfect children. I have this not so secret fascination with Katie Holmes' new hair style. However, we don't know what those people are like on the inside. I know of some truly beautiful people on the outside, that once you get to know them, they're ugly as those little Chinese Crested dogs. Their ugliness on the inside seeps out of their pores it seems and coats them on the outside to those of us that know them. I also know women that think of themselves as "regular" looking that are so beautiful on the inside, it radiates to the outside and people gravitate towards them.
After the chat with Kiersten, I really pondered about what true beauty is and I think I found just a few. You know that Coke commercial that ran during the Olympics that showed athletes receiving their gold medals, including some athletes from the Special Olympics? Those special spirits that the world may see as "different" were truly beautiful to me. A woman that goes through chemo and loses her hair but not her sense of humor is truly beautiful. A woman, though frail of body who is mighty in spirit and a testimony to the power of faith-that's true beauty. A man who pushes his father's wheelchair around on Sunday, through crowded church hallways without complaint-that's true beauty. A 12 year old girl with shiny new braces, who is funny, good hearted, and smart-that's true beauty.
What examples of true beauty have you seen lately?
Peace and love y'all!
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7 comments:
Darn, I got rather teary. At first I thought you were talking about how beautiful I am HAHAHAHAHA! Great Post Kristi!
Thank you DFC! You are beautiful!
Very insightful. Kristi, I'm getting to know a whole new side of you - you have a natural gift for writing. To coin your phrase - that's beautiful. My gifts are more in the verbal arena... as you well know.
That was a great post. There is so much to that. Kiersten is such a cute girl, with such a sweet personality. She has so much going for her. It is always hard to go thru these "ugly" parts of our lives. We see ourselves one way and others see something totally different because they are not just looking at our teeth but at who we are behind those braces. She will be ok. If nothing else, she is cute and is the smartest 12 year old I know. Soon she will be the smart girl with beautiful teeth!
I really enjoyed this post. It's words like yours that make me to stop and cherish the little things. Kiersten is a natral beauty, a little metal won't destroy that! She's lucky to have you as a mom.
awwww, I bet she looks cute with braces. It could be worse, she could have a mouth as big as Ashleigh's!! LOL I am just kidding. I pick on Ashleigh all the time b/c EVERY picture I have of her, her mouth is WIDE open and ALL you can see is metal or either she is making a goofy face.
this was a great post and you are a super mom.
BTW~ thank you and Mike for everything you have done for my kids lately and thanks for letting Ash borrow your books.
Enjoyed this post. I remember reading something a few years ago in a book entitled Simple Abundance about how every woman has some beautiful attribute or trait. EVERY woman. The author then went on to talk about how once she discovered what it was, then she could/should "play it up." After reading that, I began to look around and think about it more, and I realized that by golly, she was right! I've yet to see a woman (or man!) without some redeeming characteristic or another, but I've met many who aren't aware of that little fact.
About the Katie Holmes hair cut, it'd look adorable on you!
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