MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL

I have dedicated a lot of blogging space to how we look on the outside.  But as my mother told me over and over during my formative years, "Pretty is as pretty does."  Now in my stream of paranoia, I would ascertain she was dissatisfied with how I looked and was trying to develop the quality of inner beauty as a sorry substitute for what was really important to her.  That is unfair and probably not true--but the truth is now gone--and perhaps the truth is not important.  I do know, when she spoke of her own mother, who died when she was two, she never talked about how beautiful she was---but instead how others said she never said an unkind thing about anyone.  SO--perhaps inner beauty was more important to her than I gave her credit.  Sadly there are times our actions--cancel out our words.

As I recently read a book about an authoress of fairy tales, I remembered all those children's stories concerning looks and beauty.  If I were a character in a fairy tale, who would I be- based upon my own actions?  Would I be the frog (OK I KNOW he was a prince--but think out of the box for a moment) who had a spell cast upon them?  Would I be standing waiting for my handsome prince to kiss me so that I could magically change into the beautiful princess?  The truth is--I have kissed some frogs in my day--but so far no one has changed into the handsome prince.

Would I be the wolf in sheep's clothing or grandma's clothing?  Trying to pass myself off as someone I am not---deceiving those around me by donning disguises--hiding the true me?  Yet under the costume--the real me is not very sweet--not very nice--and would love to have all those around me for dinner.

OH, for sure I prefer to be Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, the innocent Gretel, why even The Old Woman in the Shoe some days.  If I looked in my magic mirror---I would want to see beauty, honesty, integrity, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and a good dose of courageous.  But the fact is--there are days, when I whisper those long ago words,
"Mirror-Mirror" and the magic mirror reflects the ugly crone.  Disappointing--heart breaking--how my actions and thoughts morph me into the crone I never wanted to be.

The good news---life is NOT a fairy tale---and there can be happy endings.  I have the power--the ability--the desire to finish well.  It is never too late to change the story--to take a different path--to live happily ever after.  And in the final glance at the mirror of truth---an old woman filled with love, joy, and peace can still smile back at me.  That is truly the fairest of them all---one who is reflecting the love of Christ.

One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple. - 

Psalms 27:4