Friday, February 24, 2006

True Beauty

1 Peter 3: 3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold, or the putting on of clothing— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

Slowly but surely, since the day I found out I was pregnant, my waistline has been disappearing and although I know I'm pregnant at this point it feels like I'm just gaining weight. My clothes have stopped fitting me comfortably and most of my maternity clothes are still to big. So I just need to hang out in this awkward stage for a few more weeks. I have found my thoughts drifting more towards "how do I look?", asking Chris "Do I look pregnant or fat?". My wise husband has gently pointed me back to 1 Peter 3:3. I am so thankful for a Godly husband and God's word. It is wonderful that in a society/culture that is all about obsessing in making your outward appearance perfect I can look to God's word and find that it's the inner beauty that is precious in his sight. And it's in cultivating true beauty that I need to give my attention to.

5 comments:

Danielle said...

Always a good reminder for me, thanks. I'm sure you look beautiful, I think pregnancy adds a certain glow.

Patrick said...

Hi Tara. This is Meg, Patricks wife, from Australia. I read your blog post yesterday morning, and was very convicted by my own vanity and regularly wondering if my outward appearance is ok, exposing my pride and vanity more than I care to admit!
I was quite ill with asthma yesterday and was heading off at 8am to the doctor to get some medicine so I could breath properly. On my way out the door, I asked my husband if I looked ok in this tshirt of his I was wearing, or did it make me look bad? As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I thought of your post I had read and cringed at my vanity! Patrick laughed and said,"Who cares what you look like! Just get to the doctor and get the medicine you need so you don't keel over and die!" I cracked up laughing and replied, "It doesn't matter if I die, just so long as I am looking good as I do it!" We laughed at the absurdity of it as I walked out the door. Praise God he convicts us of our pride in so many gentle ways!

Hope you are feeling well in your pregnancy today. God bless you and your family.
Love Meg

Anonymous said...

whatever, you're totally beautiful. :-)

Spirit of Adoption said...

Ahhh...fresh words for me!!! Thank you so much for sharing so vulnerably! And you are due in JULY??? Is that right? I'm due in Sept, and I'm already feeling everything you said! So, be encouraged! Thanks for checking out my blog! It was really neat to hear from you! I love your blog and your heart!!! I'll definitely be reading you regularly! Bless you, sister! And you are beautiful...inside and out!!!

Tara said...

Thanks for your encouraging words Shawnda! I'm due in August but hey in AZ 120 degree summer heat I'm sure I'll be rooting for July :-)