My sweet, tender Grace.  She’s my mini-me.  Knowing this helps when she comes to me with certain self-image questions.

While we were in the car together recently, she shared with me that her cheek bones stick out a lot, and her face is sort of shaped like a pentagon.  And maybe some kids might make fun of her because of how her face is shaped.

I said, “You know who else has cheek bones that stick out and a face shaped like that?  I do.”  And she smiled, because she knew it was true.  Then I was able to share with her some precious truths from my marriage with Chad.

“You know who thinks I’m the most beautiful woman in the world?  Daddy.  He would never, ever make fun of my face, or anything about me.  If you meet a boy who makes fun of you, that is not the guy God wants you to be with.”  She smiled again, a little embarrassed, and again because she knew it was all true.

Friends, these words would not have meant nearly as much if our actions at home couldn’t back them up.  She sees us hug, kiss, and dance on a regular basis.  She sees us treat each other with love and respect.  She sees us get into arguments, and resolve them, loving each other every step of the way.  She sees us care about each other more than anyone else.

Please know, I am not teaching her that her beauty is tied up in what a man thinks about her.  In this lesson, I want to teach her how to stand strong against the fierce winds of mean words.  I want to teach her what kinds of relationships she deserves to have.  I tell her regularly that she is beautiful not because of what she wears, but because of who she is and who God created her to be.  She is beautiful simply by being.  But let’s face it, the words of others carry weight.  I want her to grow in strength, confidence, and self-worth, knowing that she is worthy of having people in her life who love her exactly the way she is.

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