Daily Devotions
He has made everything beautiful in its time. . . . Ecclesiastes 3:11a
After looking at all the perfect faces on the magazine covers in the grocery store, it’s easy to get depressed.
Very few of us have perfect faces, perfect figures, or perfect anything else. Of course, we don’t have professional make-up artists helping us, either. Still, it’s discouraging, and has been over the centuries.
In the 1700s, a story went around about a princess who was not beautiful. One of the castle matrons taught her three rules on how to appear more so. These were the three rules given to the girl to make her beautiful.
1. Smile at everyone you encounter.
2. Look for all the beautiful things you can find.
3. Say something kind to everyone.
The princess practiced these rules and soon found out that other people considered her most beautiful indeed.
Are you beautiful? Because of the Redeemer’s work, to our Lord you most certainly are that.
But are you beautiful to yourself?
Have the hassles of day-to-day living left you feeling wrinkled, old before your time, and hardened? If so, maybe we who feel that way need to practice the principles learned by the princess: smile at everyone, look for the beautiful, and say something kind to all.
It may sound overly simple, but I have to be honest, I’ve met some people who have tried this, and they really have become more beautiful than they ever thought possible.
From a devotion originally written for “By the Way”
THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ You have created a new heart within us and made us beautiful. Help us show that beauty to others in the way we express and reflect the Redeemer’s love. This we pray in His Name. Amen.