"How beautiful you are, my beloved, how beautiful!" - Song of Solomon 4:1

Sometimes the little girl in me still tugs wistfully at the things I wish I could change about myself, but today I found this magazine excerpt taped in an old journal and I was reminded that, underneath the gaudy definition of beauty that the world has tried to pin on me, my Father's original intention for what beautiful means is written into my heart's deepest layer.

"I'm learning an interesting concept, though. In reality, anyone can be pretty. Before and after photos aren't hard to achieve. On the other hand, I'm convinced that there are only a few truly beautiful women in the world. I want to be one of those. Sure they care about their appearance, but they're more concerned with living an amazing life. They naturally make people feel at ease. They have the kind of personality that draws people in, that isn't rude. They can be confident without being cocky. They're cool with doing their own thing - whether it's marching in the band, collecting rocks from cool places, going to concerts, working on their three-pointers or treating every customer on the other side of the counter like he or she is important. They know how to dress and that modesty and chic can indeed go hand in hand. They're not obsessed with their jean size.

They're all about denying themselves and serving other people, whether they're playing with kids in a tribe along the Amazon River or going out of their way at church to talk to someone new. They dig into God's Word. They don't just tote their Bible around for fun; they use it. They memorize it. They go to it for answers.

Ultimately, beautiful girls know how loved they are by God and that gives them the kind of joy and security that shows. Beautiful girls rise above the fake, plastic kind of pretty our world is obsessed with, and they choose something far more wonderful and mysterious: a heart like Jesus'.

Pretty girls come and go. Beautiful girls leave a legacy. God calls us beautiful. Let's believe what He says."