Be honest, do you think you could love a beast? The story of Beauty & the Beast is an intriguing one. You’ve got the character of Belle, whose very name means beauty, & Beast, who, well, is one. In a nutshell, the stunningly lovely Belle finds it in her heart to look past all the…hmmm, what’s the word…Claws? Fur? Fearsome grotesque façade let’s say – to love him for who he is inside…& more importantly, for who he becomes when a kind & caring beauty melts his hardened heart. Ah, I love happy endings paired with enchanting romances! Now, fairy tale aside, how much does appearance truly count in a relationship today? Could you fall in love with a guy with scars, a skin disease, missing limbs, some handicap or deformity? Could you if you found you loved the man inside, no matter the outer shell he came packaged in? Or would his looks stop you from getting close enough to even find out? Let’s take it down a notch from there: What if the male simply didn’t fit the world’s idea of beauty?
When us girls think of our future husbands it’s normal to think handsome (i.e.: physically attractive) among other qualities we hope to find in our mate. Some even go so far as to have a list with items desperately seeking future checkmarks, such as these specifics: dark hair, tall, ruggedly handsome, etc., etc. But, are those qualities vital or even valuable? Do those types of physical qualities mean quality? Think of Gaston, he had all the above, but his inner self was pompous & I’d say truly beastly. Belle saw through his good looks & refused his affection because what she saw in him wasn’t attractive. Smart girl. But, today are we so smart or, perhaps the better word is wise? I love this verse from the Bible & I think it fits the story of Beauty & the Beast perfectly:
“God does not see the same way people see. People look at the outside of a person, but the LORD looks at the heart.” -1 Samuel 16:7
You know, as we strive to become more & more like Christ (even though we’ll never reach that level doesn’t mean we aren’t supposed to try), seek to see people’s hearts & not get caught up in the wrapping they’re in; you never know, the heartbeat behind it could be a match for your own. Look for the inner qualities that truly show quality in a person/mate, such as…
Christian Leadership
Integrity
Gentleness
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Lots of Love,
-Bess-
Don’t judge a book by its cover. -Author Unknown
