True Beauty - The Real Thing
Dear Maggie,
I am the mother of a beautiful little girl who is eight year’s old and I have noticed that she is starting to change physically. She is also beginning to compare herself to the images of beauty represented on television. You and I know that the beauty we see there is not always real ... I want to teach her about real beauty ... inward beauty. Can you give me some ideas about how to talk with her about the changes that are going on in her body?
Sincerely,
Tricia
Dear Tricia,
Thank you for honoring me by requesting advice on such a delicate matter. As a mother, I understand how difficult it is to discuss something so private yet important with your daughter. The physical changes that occur in the female body can be exciting and challenging at the same time. I recommend a book by American Girl, The Care & Keeping of YOU … The Body Book for Girls. It is a wonderful book that shares a lot of educational and fun information about the changes that occur in a little girl and how she can care for herself. I tell my little girl all of the time what the Bible says about her and I’d like to share it with you. I tell her that she is a gift and God made her special. I share with her the scripture that says, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” [Psalms 139:14]
Raising a daughter is a challenge especially in today’s world where the beauty is represented by false images of airbrushed beauties. Everywhere our daughters turn they are seeing what the world portrays as beauty but true beauty goes beyond the surface to the inner person. I loved the show “True Beauty” where all the outwardly beautiful people were actually being judged not on their appearance but upon their true hearts as they relate to other people. I think the show did an excellent job of showing the importance of being beautiful on the inside as well as the outside. If you are ugly on the inside it mars any outward beauty that other people might see. The American Girl Magazine's are an awesome tool for teaching your daughter the value of being beautiful on the inside. If we can instill in our daughters the importance of valuing inward beauty more than their outward appearance then we have won a great victory.
I hope that this advice will help. I am praying for you my fellow mother!
May “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” [Numbers 6:24-26]
In His Service!
Maggie
