God Made Me Beautiful, But I Didn't Know It

When God formed us he placed beauty in all of us. He chose the color of our eyes, skin, and texture of our hair. He decided the physical limitations we would have or even diseases or disabilities we would be born with before we were ever birthed into this world. We were fearfully and wonderfully created in our mothers’ wombs. Every person is unique. Even identical twins aren’t truly identical. They have their own personality and character.

Whether I was created in an act of lust or love, I am beautiful. It doesn’t matter if I was born to a couple, or a single mom. I am beautiful. Was I raised by my mother, grandmother, two parents, father, and foster parents or in an orphanage? I am beautiful. I was, I am, and I will always be beautiful. God made me beautiful, but I didn’t know it.

If I was raised in the ghettos of the inner city, on a farm, or in Suburbia, I am beautiful. Do I know the sounds of happiness and laughter of children playing, or am I familiar with the cries of hunger, sadness, fear, abuse, or neglect. I am beautiful. Was I raised in poverty or privilege? Have I ever been in need? Did I eat with government assistance or was I served by others? Did I live on the streets and eat whatever I could find or was offered to me?  Was my primary care giver employed, a stay at home mom, a teenager, self- employed, or did I benefit from my grandparents or some other relative’s inheritance?  I am beautiful. Was I exposed to drugs, gangs, and violence? Maybe my childhood was scarred by sexual, physical and/or mental abuse. Was I afraid to come home, or afraid to go to school? Was I homeless, living in shelters, abandoned buildings, cars or on the streets? I am beautiful.

Was I an only child, a result of a multiple birth, or one of many siblings? I am beautiful. I was, I am, and I will always be beautiful. God made me beautiful, but I didn’t know it.

Sometimes our beauty is recognized by other people easier than what we see ourselves. Whenever people repeatedly tell you something positive about your character that is one of your attributes of beauty. It may be a gift of serving people, a good business mind, being encouraging to others, a good work ethic, a forgiving spirit, a gentle way, being kind hearted, an excellent speaker or motivator. It may be being creative, imaginative, industrious, being wise or even having street savvy. All of these are attributes of beauty. I will briefly discuss sixteen attributes or characteristics of beauty which I think are invaluable and are essential for people to have in some measure to be successful in life.