Believe the Beautiful...

How quickly the accuser starts... He's always had a keen interest in our type from the beginning. He starts in the smallest of ways, at such a young age. 
"Do you think I'm beautiful?"  she asks from behind her bowl of mixed cookie dough.  Heart sinks. How early the doubts begin. The first signs of those awful feelings I can so easily remember...

Where did this come from? We live in a world free from the western ideas of "beautiful"...  

But its something deep inside her all of us that longs to be seen as beautiful and yet, a blockage- a lie- doubt is somehow planted into the soil of her soul. 
The accuser... the planter of lies. 

 As we get the fresh cookies out of the oven, I offer a compliment to the chef... "Great job!" The compliment is met with resistance... "you did most of it" or "they're not that great."  The inability to accept a compliment... or the quick deflection and minimization is offered.  Oh how guilty are we to not accept a simple compliment with "thank you."  Because it surely conflicts with that lie planted deep into us that says "You're really not that good... not that special." 

The accuser... the planter of doubts. 
And me- the caretaker of this beautiful garden growing in front of me.  I begin to pick out the weeds that lies have sown. Weeds that I recognize all too well. 
  I tell her of her great value... her great beauty simply because of who she is... which has nothing to do with skin color, the wave of hair, waist size, brain capacity, performance, or bank account.  

Deceiving is the only way to contain the great influence built inside of you... 
because to hold such beauty... such love... such compassion... and grace... fearlessness... brilliance and hope... love for the one who made you... 
it is a most perfect package for being the change...for doing great things... 
Do not be deceived my sweet girl... Hold onto truth... Know that you are enough... God's grace is enough... your life, your hair, your eyes, your laugh... it's all enough.  
Believe the beautiful He has created in you...