A Christian Woman Thinks (And It's Dangerous)

Beauty

My daughter fell in love with a dress while we were shopping recently - an unusual event, as she much prefers jeans, t-shirts, & sneakers to any other attire.

It is not a particularly frilly dress: no ruffles, petticoats, pastel colors. In fact, the style is more Catholic schoolgirlish (a friend at school even remarked she looked like a Catholic school student). It has a navy top with a faux white shirt collar and cuffs, and a plaid skirt attached.

What is it she loves about this dress?

It has a swirly twirly skirt. It swishes like crazy. And swish my daughter did - does! - every chance she gets when wearing it and any time the urge overtakes her.

What is it girls love about twirly skirts?

Author Stasi Eldredge has this answer in the introduction to her book Captivating:

"Because that it the heart God set within every woman. That is the role she was created to play - to be a valient and beautiful woman whose life changes the world."

God is all about beauty. And as women, created in His image, it seems we were created to reflect His beauty. This beauty invites - it invites others to see the heart of God, and touch His beauty. It is captivating.

That's the message of Stasi Eldredge's book, which I highly recommend!

Adding my own thoughts, which I've been mullling around since reading this book - I have this theory there is a part of us that recognizes we are no longer perfect, but should be. We are no longer as beautiful as we could be in a fallen world. That is why we are dismayed when bad things happen, when our beauty is marred - the beauty of ourselves or the beauty that is our world, our life, as we've created it. Oh, we know bad things can happen, we expect them, we just don't expect them to happen to US. We are not created for these types of things.

This is why we do things like send flowers to someone when something "ugly" happens - at a funeral, for instance (I think I'm stealing this thought from Mrs. Eldredge). This small token of beauty is supposed to make up for the ugly. It offers consolation, and hope that things can still be pretty.

Think about all the beauty around you. What do you find beautiful? I don't care for dresses much myself, but I DO enjoy blouses with drippy angel sleeves. And things with sequins that dance and sparkle.

You might take secret delight in a pretty apron made of calico, or in a small milk jug of flowers you picked from your own yard, or in the sparkle of color as the sun dances on your child's hair. These things all invite you to ponder the Creator, do they not?

Drop me a note. Tell me what you find beautiful. Please feel free to share your thoughts. And if you can get it, read a copy of the book!

The beauty of children

{ 10:49, Wednesday, November 15, 2006 } { Posted by kenyachick }

The older (and uglier) I get the more I find the beauty in youth. Their skin is so smooth like butter. I just can't help but touch it!!! Kimberly and her friends are so young and beautiful and so are the boys they are interested in. I love the beauty of black, brown and white faces . But I remember that beauty fades so we must work on the hearts of these children and make them just as beautiful as they are on the outside!!

beautiful post

{ 10:53, Wednesday, November 15, 2006 } { Posted by deedee06 }

Chris, I loved your thoughts today. I will get the book through an inter-library loan. You asked about the things I find beautiful....Being an oil painter, I get great joy from painting our beautiful state. My kitchen is a cozy room with lots of "pretties". David made a barn bread box for me that I love. There are chile peppers, corn salt and pepper shakers and a corn butter dish. I have a couple of small antique cream cans and a miniature wheelbarrow with colorful squash in it. Our livingroom is caramel colored with pottery and Indian corn on a shelf. We keep adding trees to our yard because we enjoy their beauty. Gardens are beautiful as well as flower beds. David and I dream of one day getting a nice digital camera and taking pictures of barns as we travel. Barns are my favorite antiques and they are a thing of beauty in any condition. I will come back to this post to see what others enjoy as well. Blessings from the Big Sky Country..........Denise (prairiemom)

Unbelievable

{ 11:52, Thursday, November 16, 2006 } { Posted by Darcy }

I'm telling you God has got us on the same wavelength! I just recently saw this book while shopping and decided to try and get it online rather than outright to save some $$$ but it appears that LOTS of people want it because even on eBay it's going for a good price. Sam and I read "Wild at Heart" a few years ago and it really spoke to both of us so we can't wait to read this one about women. When I read the dust cover tears sprang to my eyes which automatically tells me I am going to LOVE IT!
Thanks for your insight today. What things of beauty speak to me? Sights of nature like bare tree branches with snow covering them, pine trees towering with the sun shining through, thin delicate teapots/teacups, victorian decor (yes I know, seems somehow unfitting in my current cabin but it lies there in wait.......), baby smiles, stained glass, castles with turrets, hmmm I know I could come up with more but that's a start anyway!
Darcy

all things beautiful....like this blog

{ 07:54, Thursday, November 23, 2006 } { Posted by surfercajun }

I just love what you wrote. It is so true to life. Sorry i have not been on in a while. I can relate to your daughter and the swishy dress/skirt. I have two swishy skirts myself... I just love how they swish...The skirts go down to the ankles so please, no bad thoughts because I like swishy too! Your question on what is beautiful. Well, since we are talking swish dresses/skirts I tend to appreciate a nicely dressed woman. Nothing high class or expensive looking. She exzudes class. To her head held high to her step. That is what I find most beautiful. A confident woman. When is the last time some of us head our heads high and took a fine step? lisa (aka surfercajun)