Don’t Buy What They’re Selling

Magazines…billboards…movies…T.V. commercials, they all seek to sell their version of beauty. Each avenue has an opinion on how we should look in order to be accepted. Psalm 139: 13-14 confirms that God created us from the womb, and we were fearfully and wonderfully made. Yet society—and its groupies, social media and consumerism—dictate that our appearance is flawed, while dishing out myriad products to fix it. They deem what body type is best, what clothes are best, and what makeup hides imperfections the best. But I’m glad verse 14 of Psalm 139 continues by stating “God’s works are marvelous.”
He created us beautiful in his image, and he makes no mistake.
One God-fearing father wanted to ensure his daughter of about two or three years old knows this fact. So in an effort to guarantee her acknowledging that she is beautiful and wonderfully made when she’s old enough to understand, he wrote her a letter as a personal reminder. Here is an excerpt…
“Dear Daughter,

I hope you never notice the magazine rack at the supermarket.

I hope you never see the billboards on the highway or the ads on the side of the city bus.

I hope you never learn about Hollywood and the fashion industry.

I hope you never listen to pop music.

I hope you never walk down the makeup aisle.

I hope you never hate your own appearance.

I hope you never pick up the habit of putting yourself down whenever someone compliments you.

I hope you never feel the pressure to physically conform to the perverse standards of a disordered world.

I hope you always stay exactly as you are right now. Innocent, carefree, unencumbered, pure.”

He has a point. The world does not make it easy for us to be self-confident and proud of how God originally created us. Our harsh culture has mastered the art of convincing us that there is always something to modify on our bodies. And so we pine…
“If only my nose was smaller…”
“If only my breast was bigger…”
“If only my chest was broader…”
In fact, the alteration list could go on for days! We easily buy into the lies the world tells us instead of believing God’s word. Julia’s dad knows how horrid this world can be when it comes to physical appearance and self-esteem. Though he hopes he could protect his daughter from the harsh reality of a partial society that idolizes ready-made beauty, he knows it’s not possible. Nevertheless, he pledge to tell her everyday how beautiful she is with the hopes that self-acceptance will never be compromise.
The letter written to his daughter Julia is equally lovely as is heartwarming. Click to view the full letter