Beauty

As with many women throughout Western civilization, all my life I have struggled with what it means to be beautiful. Recently I watched a video entitled "Pretty," by Katie Makkai, a veteran poetry slammer.  You should check out her video below, if you have time.  This video really spoke to me.  Many women struggle with what it means to be pretty and mistakenly base their value on their outward appearance.  Society has not been kind to them in this manner.  I've often wondered if we will ever see an end to the countless pictures of photo-shopped women glaring back at us from the magazine rack at the checkout aisle.  Romans 12:2 says "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." I have prayed that I would be able to incorporate this verse into my life many times, however, I seem to continue to struggle with my outward appearance.  I also seem to operate by some kind of earthly subconscious rating system in which I compare myself to other women.  If I think that I am prettier than another woman, then I will automatically think that I am better than her and proceed to treat her accordingly.  However, if she is prettier than myself, then I will automatically think that she is also better than me, and I start to feel horrible about myself and the way that I look.  I have prayed multiple times about this and as soon as I feel like God is moving in me, another wave of fear, pain, and embarrassment overshadows any progress that I have made.  I wanted to post this because I know that I am not the only one who struggles with their looks or their outward appearance in general.  Please feel free to leave your comments below. It is my hope that, perhaps with an online discussion group, we can talk through, pray for, and begin to heal one other.