A tear trickled down her face as she said, “I have low self-esteem.” My heart cracked like paint on an old farm house. Peeled up against the grain of wood in rows of one inch increment’s. The color was washed away by years of storms that ravished the home. Beaten by hail storms and tornadoes and winds that wouldn’t and couldn’t be calmed, until she knew of Jesus.
There was only one hope for this lady and that was Jesus. I would be the voice piece of God, letting her know that He told me to help. That Jesus cared enough to speak to me about her situation. To give her resources for rent and medication. To let her know that she wasn’t alone in this world. That God had heard her cries and knew where she was at emotionally, spiritually, relationally, financially and physically. He knew about her eviction notice. He knew she had run out of medication. He knew that her grandson needed his kidney to be healed. He knew after 30 years of marriage, her husband walked out to never return. He knew the pain that this life had brought her and He was here for her. In fact, He never left. He has been waiting for her, calling her name and she heard His voice. The voice of the good shepherd, whispering, ‘this is the way walk ye’ in it.’ This woman needed to hear all those things from God, but she also needed to know that she was beautiful. The Lord called her beautiful. 1 Peter 3:4 (NLT), “You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.”
The beauty of the world and the beauty of God are too totally different idealogies. I can see how we have allowed ourselves to be caught up in the world of external beauty; but I don’t understand the why’s? It is like a river that we waded into enjoying the refreshing cool water, but we wandered out too far and the refreshing turned into rushing waters that took us further than we intended. Now, we have discovered it is too difficult to return to the matters of the heart.
Every Christian woman knows these words in Proverbs 31:30, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.” I get the feeling that some women take this scripture as a cart blanc to not take care of themselves. To allow their physical appearance to decline rapidly and beyond their years. On the flip side, God gaves us eyes to see. We are living in a world that is visually stimulated. We look at people repulsively or with adoration and they can see it in our faces. In the tone of our voice, the way we squint our eyes - yes, women, men, children can see how we look at them. So isn’t it our responsibility to see people, God’s kids as He sees them? With love, empathy for their situation, grace and reaching our hand out to touch their hearts. Even in the midst of the foul smell emanating off their body? The smell of urine? Bad breath? The look of unkempt hair?
Take heart and take this challenge: when we look at other women who are not appealing to the eye of the world, we would love them as Christ does and they would see that love in our expression to them. I think if we respond to them the way Jesus Christ does, they will discover who they are and their value. As mature believers, we must go back and tell them, show them, and love them.
Excellent word! Remember "the pure in heart will see God" I think that means that if our hearts are pure before our Lord - we will see Him at work in whomever, whatever. Give me a pure heart!
Posted by: lynn | April 12, 2006 at 11:07 AM
You are so wise....and compassionate! Good post!
Diane
Posted by: Diane | April 12, 2006 at 08:02 PM
Ahh- your words always leave me staring distantly, deep in thought. You are so insightful.
Lynn- I love your twist on 'seeing God'. I have not quite thought along those lines before. I love that!
Posted by: Lisa Heath | April 13, 2006 at 02:08 PM