"Give me your heart and let your eyes keep to my ways." Psalm 23:26
As soon as my feet touched the ground from the last step off the school bus I sprinted up the hill and down the long sidewalk into our Birmingham home. I had been dealing with a certain group of boys in my sixth grade class that were intent on pointing out the blue blood veins that were apparent in both sides of my face.
When first they noticed this about me, I tried to discount their discovery by disagreeing with what they were seeing. With each passing day they laughed and joked and carried on like they were comedians on a nighttime tv show. No amount of ignoring them would get them off my back. I knew as the day carried me into class with them the jokesters would one by one gather around me; one of them performing their opening act of the group for their comedic relief.
You see, I knew they were there, believe me, in my inspection of myself each morning in the mirror I saw the veins as running rivers on a globe, weaving their way down into my jawline. I just hoped that no one would look at me close enough to notice. (I mean no one ever mentioned them to me the first eleven years of my life, boys...ugh).
I had all I could take. That day I ran into the house to find my mama, I was looking for a final conclusion to my dilemma. I had ran through all of the ideas she had given me to get these vultures off of me and now I was desperate.
The next thing I knew we are in our local drug store standing in front of the makeup counter. Mama did her best to match the foundation color to my skin tone. I still remember the very next day I walked into class with my head held high, never giving a second thought as the boys found their seats around me. Did you know not another word was spoken to me about those pesky little culprits on my face (the makeup did it's job).
If I could go back and talk to that little girl I would have a few things to tell her. Like, don't give those boys a second thought for they know not what they're talking about. We all have veins; for goodness sake, they are what allows our blood to flow. Hold your head up and shoulders back; confidence breeds positive responses from others and last but not least when young boys have crushes they tend to be obnoxious.
Whatever the reason I wish I would have had more confidence in the Lord; even today. Beauty is not about a reflection in a mirror. It is something God created, the essence of God Himself, and it stems from the heart. Changes in our appreciation for beauty need to come from the heart, not from the way we see ourselves with our eyes.
"Those who look to Him are radiant." (Ps. 34:5)
God is asking us to give our hearts to Him, He is the only One who can undo the damage that has been done to our hearts (from elementary school to our adult life) and heal us in such a way that we will have true vision.
I love you & He loves you more!
Lord, I believe in Your healing, restoring and revealing image of who I am in You. I pray I will look to Your amazing Word to see my reflection in You. In Jesus' name. Amen.