Our Heavenly Father is a creative being. He is the one who spoke the universe to existence, just by opening his mouth and issuing creative commands. A vast array of flora, fauna, creatures and landscapes reflect his nature. There are things around us that are too beautiful to describe in words.
In cultures that idolize beauty and make both women and men feel “inferior” if they don’t match what is considered beautiful, there may be a tendency to oppose the concept of beauty. I know I have certainly had in the past and loved by both my children (girls and boys) for who they are and not for what they look like I’ve had a hard time teaching acceptance.I absolutely believe it’s an important lesson.
Yet, in rejecting unhelpful cultural ideals of beauty, have we forgotten the glorious impact beauty has on our well-being? I remembered this when I entered the living room. Today they are now in full bloom and full of glory.
They took my breath away and I stood a while looking at them and was intoxicated by their beauty. Then I moved to the dining room. The last few sunflowers from the bunch were there. I smiled as I remembered Taka.
I used to buy flowers every week, but stopped trying to tighten my shopping budget (because I considered it an unnecessary expense). whenever possible.
May I suggest asking God to make you aware of the beauty around you today? We are all different, so think about what type of beauty affects you the most.
For example, putting a smile on someone’s face, taking a walk while enjoying the sights and smells of nature, being absorbed in the beauty of music, laughing, being creative with your hands, seeing something beautiful, etc. is. Shape becomes shape.
Then commit to making time each week to experience and celebrate its beauty and thank God that it is a part of your life.
Claire Musters is a writer, speaker and editor who blogs at clairemusters.com. Her most recent books are Daily Insights: Disappointment and Loss and Marriages of Grace. The latter was written with her husband and is provided with a series of free videos to accompany the book, which can be accessed on the Big Church Read website. Claire has also written and edited for Premier Woman Alive and Christianity magazines, and she is also the host of the Woman Alive Book Club.
