Beauty & The New Purse

Last night I went to Charming Charlie for a Ladies Fellowship night.  The store was big and open and the jewelry was arranged by color and such beautiful items: necklaces, earrings, headbands, rings, shoes, sandals, boots, purses and so much more!  The store clerks were nice enough to put some looks together for us, and because of the group we even received a discount.  On top of all that my friend, Chastity, did the devotional.

I often go back to the subject of the devotional which is found in 1 Samuel 16:7:

But the LORD said to Samuel,"Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."

Chastity went on to talk about how we are a society that looks at the physical appearance, and as much as I feel it as an over weight woman, I know that all women and most men feel it to.  And it goes beyond health.  I'll save my feelings on health for another day, but suffice it to say I don't believe running people down or being rude, in any capacity, is the way you deal with someone who looks out of the "norm".  As all it seems to have done is to strike fear in the hearts of many people to the point they are ruining their bodies just so they won't be seen as fat.

And yet God specifically tells us to look into the heart of a man.  It is not the physical appearance that determines how incredible a human being is, but their heart.  Who among us has not seen someone achingly beautiful, only to see their beauty turn sour when they open their mouth to spew anything but kindness and goodness?  The opposite is true to, we've seen someone with a physical appearance that isn't as pleasant to the eye, but they open their hearts and their actions cause us to see way beyond physical appearance to the beauty of their soul.

In fact I think the best example of this is actually from the movie, Shallow Hal.  I know it got slammed by many people, but I think the lesson from it on physical beauty vs inner beauty was spot on.  My question is why don't we focus more on those traits?  I can be just as guilty and the minute I am the Holy Spirit convicts me, and I am reminded that they are a person of worth.  The second greatest commandment then comes flooding into my heart, "Love your neighbor as yourself", and suddenly I see something in that person that I never would have seen with my blinders on.

I'm not saying we should throw appearance out the door, or let people continue on in very un-healthy habits, but I think if given love and encouragement, that perhaps, true beauty will start to mean more to you and to me.

All of that being said I actually bought a new purse.  My beautiful orange Kate Spade was an incredible 2009 Christmas gift that I've proudly worn since then.  In fact I refused to give it up until I could find another purse that would catch my eye.  Last night I did.  I'm retiring my beloved purse for the time being, but make no mistake it will be back.  Beauty like that should never be resting too long (just like you!).

So this is my new beautiful yellow Berkinish looking bag.

May someone see your beauty today.

Much Love,
Kelli