Realness is beautiful.

Fake flowers vs. Real flowers

It's a universal love: everyone loves flowers. 

But why? 

You can smell them and feel their soft petals. They aren't perfect; they have blemishes--but they are no less beautiful because of it. In fact, they are more treasured and more appreciated because they aren't going to last forever. Their beauty is genuine and special. We have to wait for them during the winter, and treasure them in the spring. Because they are real--that is why we love them so much.

So doesn't that make fake flowers pointless? I think so. Everything that's so beautiful about flowers--all of the realness--is taken away and replaced with plastic. You can't smell them; they aren't soft; they are "too" perfect; and what's special about something that's always there and completely flawless? What is special about being artificial?

I was thinking about all of this while on a walk earlier today (after picking some beautiful springy daffodils) and it struck me: people are like flowers! 

Be real! Being "real," being yourself . . . that's what makes you beautiful and special. Not looking perfect all the time. Being flawless (caking yourself in make-up, spending hours on your hair, worrying about being popular or cool) is not going to make you amazing. It's our hearts and our attitudes that make us beautiful or ugly. We should be focused on glorifying God with out actions and words and attitudes. We should be worshiping God with all that we do. This is true beauty.

Just like everyone loves real flowers, people like real people and real girls! 

And physically, God created you exactly how he wants you to be. You are beautiful--stop saying and thinking that you are not. You are special and worth waiting for, just like flowers in the spring (so as a side note, please never lower your standards for a guy because you don't think you're good enough. You are!).

Be yourself. Don't stress about not looking "perfect." It's okay if you have pimples, or crazy hair, or a little extra weight, or any other so called flaw. God created you, just like he created the beautiful flowers that we admire--except you were created in His image, which is way more special and beautiful than flowers. 

Peace & Love