Beauty

Things That Went Right Today:

1) Daughter sang well in the chorus concert last night
2) Found a great business networking group in my area
3) Catching up with a old friend on facebook that I've missed a lot over the years!

I overheard my son and daughter talking the other day and it went something like this:

son: I don't think you'll ever get married.
daughter: Yeah...well if you ever DO get married it'll be to somebody ugly.
son: No way...if I married her she would be pretty to me.
daughter: Yeah, but everyone else will think she's ugly.
son: Well...who cares? As long as I think she's beautiful than I'll be happy.


So much for harmony at home right? But even though it was not exactly a mother's dream to hear such a conversation going on, I did find it thought provoking. So I intervened at this point and we had a little discussion between us about what makes someone beautiful. My other children soon joined in the fun and there was a rousing debate on the subject. It seems like a fairly simple question when first asked...what is beauty? Is it the external appearance of a person that is pleasing to others? Or something in a person's spirit that shines through in their countenance? Is there a difference between just pretty and truly beautiful, and how can you tell? Is it youth and symmetry? Or can the wise glow of a grandmother be beautiful too? Is there a universally accepted standard of beauty? Or is it an individual perception? We finally concluded that the kind of person you are inside will determine how you perceive others, as will their core personalities that influence the way they present themselves. And that therefore beauty is not so much seen with your eyes, as felt with your heart. There is beauty that we sometimes miss because we are not looking carefully and beauty that can be revealed by love.  That's my opinion at least. Ask yourself the personal question...what does beauty mean to you? In others and in yourself as well. You might be surprised by what your answers turn out to be. Today I am thankful for the beauty that radiates from so many that I have the privilege to know. Attractive on the outside yes...but transformed into true beauties by their kind and gentle hearts.