Why I Think You {yes, YOU!} Are Beautiful

Would you like to be like a tree? I know I would. The Bible describes the righteous man {and woman!} as a tree that is planted by the rivers of water, growing strong and beautiful. {Psalm 1}

When is the last time you thought about how a tree looks? Like really looks? I don't think I ever really thought much about the anatomy of a tree until I painted one on the wall in the kid's room last week.

I painstakingly tried to make every branch and every leaf look perfect. When a branch ended up at a funny angle I wished I could erase it and start over again. But you can't erase paint! ;)

And then I started thinking about what trees really look like. Only fake trees are perfect. A real tree has knots and crooked branches and blemished leaves.

Just like us.

God uses something that is imperfect but beautiful and strong to describe the life of a person who is dwelling in Him.

We are all kind of like trees. We have our little faults and issues and scars, but we are created by a wonderful God. He lovingly designed every bit of us and we need to quit wishing we were different. We need to quit judging each other by any certain measuring stick, because nothing God created is a copy.

Instead, let's thank God for making us who we are! We've all had good and bad things that have shaped our branches as they grow and that is what makes us unique and beautiful.

If you're like me, you tend to me such more critical of yourself than you are of those around you. We wish we could hide the flaws that sorrow and sin create. We feel too fat or too skinny. Maybe there's a part of our story that we wish we could hide, but it seems to be out in the open, way too easy to spot.

But you know, the thing is, we aren't supposed to be perfect. The blood of Jesus has made us perfect in God's eyes and when we're in Heaven, we will be perfect. But for now, we are flawed, and still beautiful. When I quit going for perfection on the tree I was painting and embraced the beautiful imperfection of a real tree instead, it became exactly what I wanted. Not perfect, but beautiful.

So, dear friend, in case I haven't told you recently:

You are beautiful.

You are strong.

You are thriving where God has planted you.

Your hurts and sorrows do not make you less, but more

You are encouraging.

You are lovely.

You are important and needed.

And you are loved, by God and me.

Whether you have gone through a lot of trials or you feel just like a normal person, living a normal life, your life has purpose and beauty.

I am so glad God has placed you in my life. You are a picture of Jesus and you mean so much to me!

Thank you, for being my friend.

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