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Thursday, March 3, 2011

Reclaiming Beauty


What is true beauty? How can it be expressed? It is an age-old and fascinating question that women of every age have asked. Another question: Is it all up to personal definition or are there common characteristics linking various tastes to point toward one true beauty? I think these questions beg to be asked anew because we all know that how we present ourselves is part of our means of communicating who we are.

We know society largely deems beauty as physical perfection, insisting that this perfection is flaunted. This message is so intrenched that is sometimes difficult to think otherwise. But when this approach is taken, a woman's real self is eclipsed. Rather than being truly admired and loved, revealing too much only succeeds in reducing a woman to an exterior. This can only mean that there exists a true beauty, distinct from society's notion, that is capable of radiating a woman's inner strength and personality.

Only true, respectful, and modest beauty can reflect the woman we are. There is often a misunderstanding of what modesty means which includes a fear of being frumpy. Rather, true beauty fits perfectly with and includes modesty, which is the protector of persons. Not only is the woman safeguarded through modesty, children learn of their own innate dignity through positive role models and men are protected in their state in life, whether single, married, or celibate. True beauty ensures that women are seen as persons with an immense amount to add to the lives of those around us, starting with our families, and society as a whole. By putting care in the way we dress and even act, we are channeling energy away from seeking admiration and putting it toward developing our talents to serve with greater knowledge and ability. Each woman has her own talents and achievements that society awaits, and these are the core of the beauty she possesses. The more a woman develops her talents and serves others with them, the more beautiful she becomes, because she is mirroring the Beauty of God, who lays down His life for others. This beauty is able to shine out when the overall presentation reflects our innate dignity. 

So let us pause to consider our own presentation and its significance. The effort, time, and thought this takes is all very well spent because we know that what we do reflects out beliefs. We are communicating the truth about who we are, and we want to be heard correctly. Taking the time to consider ourselves and our presentation to our families and to the world will give us a voice about who and what women are at a time when these are sadly misunderstood.
        As mothers, we all desire our children to grow up with a strong sense of their worth as human beings. We want our daughters to be loved for who they are and we want our sons to respect the women in their lives, generally and specifically. In order for this to happen, lets reevaluate how we present ourselves as a group to help reshape society's image of women as a whole. Through the way we dress, our children and the world are taking daily note of our personal definition of beauty to better understand themselves and others. Lets give them the right picture.