Grace Notes: Random Thoughts From A Tall Blonde

Mirrors. From the time we are young, they become the visual teachers on how we see ourselves. We look to them, always seeking positive affirmation on the reflection staring back at us. Yet, unlike the fairy tale where some faceless entity deems how fair we are, we assume the role as arbiter to decide whether or not we meet whatever the current standard of beauty is which, in turn, can affect our confidence and self-worth. Five decades of experience with mirror gazing has proven to me that I have, at times, been an unfair judge of the reflection that I see each day. I hope a chance encounter I had in a women’s restroom will help illustrate my point.

I was washing my hands when I saw a woman standing in front of the mirror. I couldn’t help but notice as she fussed with her bright, tangerine blouse that complimented her beautiful, bronzed complexion. Unsatisfied with the reflection staring back at her, she let out an audible, exasperated sigh. With her shoulders slightly slumped, she just stood there. While drying my hands, I turned and told her that she should relax because she looked absolutely gorgeous. When she turned my way to respond, I could see her eyes had welled up with tears. She replied that she just didn’t feel like she looked pretty. Apparently, a female acquaintance had questioned the outfit she had chosen to wear. I suggested that maybe her critic was a tad bit envious of the loveliness that was standing there. It was then I could see her square her shoulders, and her face lit up with a broad smile. Before walking out the door, she thanked me for the encouragement. The countenance on her face was as bright as that top she was wearing.

That encounter caused me to consider how many times I had done and said the same thing. Instead of seeing my own uniqueness, I fussed over my perceived imperfections. Growing up as a gangly kid who was a foot taller than everyone else, I was always a bit envious of my more vertically challenged friends. They were the ones who seemed to move so effortlessly wearing outfits that perfectly fit their five foot-something frames. On the other hand, I often felt like I maneuvered with the grace of a baby giraffe trying to walk for the first time on their long, wobbly legs. I focused so much on everything that I wasn’t that I missed seeing all the qualities that made me special. God used a brief bathroom interaction as an instructional reminder of the importance of appreciating and loving one’s self. All of us possess a beauty that is deeper and far more valuable than just the sum of our reflection. As fingerprints are one of a kind, so are we.

Getting a revelation of what self-love is should really be as easy as peering into your own mirror. Take a good look at this picture of my granddaughter, Claire. I think she’s got it right. I believe this is how we should truly see ourselves. I also believe this is how God sees us…as we are really known by Him. Each one of us, loved and adored. So, if you ever find yourself questioning your self-worth, your exterior or inner beauty, just remember that you are like a valuable work of art; an individual masterpiece brush stroked by the Master Craftsman. And with every passing day, more color and texture are added to your canvas which gives you richness and depth. That alone should make you want to kiss your reflection, and it will cause your own countenance to be brightened.

“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” – 1 Corinthians 13:12