The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your Lord. - Psalm 45:11

As a freshman in high school,  my then youth pastor shared, "You know,  if you listen to the lies of the world, you'll believe them." This wise council continued, "If you believe you are not thin enough, tall enough, pretty enough, or just not all that... you are telling God his creation is not failing, not even close to perfect." 

He had us then visualize standing in the most beautiful scene we can imagine, filled with God's most incredible creations of nature and then screaming, yelling and ranting and raving - in complete temper tantrum manner - "This is not good enough! Make it better, Make it more like the photographs!"

 (I always picture the spoiled little girl in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as these images come to mind.)

I recall this message from God every time I visit a dressing room, the scale or the mirror in the morning. Despite my outward appearance, I must believe the God of all creation doesn't make junk! I refuse to be the pot who calls the potter's handiwork imperfect. It's not easy when the world is providing more and more reasons to crave perfection for our outer shell.

So, I won't argue with God's handiwork, but discovering the inner beauty is a daily (sometimes hourly) release of my own intentions to follow Ruth's and ultimately Jesus's example of character.

Author Jen Hatmaker wrote, "Our beauty is patterned after God's; our visual beauty is a reflection of character." So, true beauty means emulating God's character of love.  

Ruth's outer beauty is not evident from all accounts of the Bible however, her inner beauty was discovered in her character. How many times have you heard, "It matters what is on the inside, not the outside?" As much I have heard this, I always thought this was a nice bit of propaganda by my family. Well folks, that is actually.... yes, God's design ... time to believe it and embrace the truth. 

Ruth did not complain, nag or drag her feet about leaving her native Moab, she went eagerly with her mother-in-law Noami to serve because she loved Noami.  Ruth's willingness to live by faith, coupled with courage and devotion allowed her inner beauty to radiate. 

A quick summary:  

A woman's beauty is God's crowning and most perfect creation. This beauty is not for self-serving purposes, but, to serve others as Ruth so embraced as she cared for Naomi enough to leave her own family and country to follow Naomi to a foreign land. She sacrificed and God rewarded.

Don't discount, compare or live in disbelief of the beauty God has blessed you with. He has equally empowered you to cultivate beauty that will radiate and demonstrate your most cherished gift: inner beauty that can change lives.

Back on track: 

Finally, I loved seeing the relationship between Ruth and Boaz as God's perfect plan for selecting a mate. Boaz demonstrates all that a young man should be for a young lady. He was taken with her outer beauty yet, learned all he could about her inner beauty. I love that the Hatmaker clearly explains, "Being tender, available and honest - draws a real man. Ruth conducted herself neither as a seductress or the victim, and Boaz nearly had a coronary trying to get to her. God designed us this way. As much as beauty is mystical, it is also practical; every woman has it, and no man can resist it. God is brilliant. The essence of a woman activates the design of a man. The best in a man is brought out by the best in a woman." 

They completed each other! 

No thanks to Jerry Maguire, just our loving God!

As a mother of two young teens, I believe this love story of Ruth and Boaz is paramount for my daughters understanding the young men that God will bring into their lives someday. 

Ruth and Boaz are examples how God works to bring two people together who are perfect in his plan. Ruth wasn't searching for  a husband, she was serving. Boaz was not searching for a wife, but was faithfully walking in God's favor and living a life of redemption. 

I pray the young men someday my daughters will meet,  will be like Boaz: enamored, a protector, a leader, a faithful follower of God. In the same way, I pray my daughters will see they are precious treasures of God's creation who must daily surrender to his leading and serve others in the same love and kindness that redeemed them in Jesus's sacrifice.

Below is a song I heard in the early part of this week, a perfect song of Ruth: You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do.  So, there could never be a more beautiful you.

More Beautiful You

by Jonny Diaz

Little girl fourteen flipping through a magazine
Says she wants to look that way 
But her hair isn’t straight her body isn’t fake 
And she’s always felt overweight

Well little girl fourteen I wish that you could see 
That beauty is within your heart 
And you were made with such care your skin your body and your hair
Are perfect just the way they are

There could never be a more beautiful you 
Don’t buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do 
So there could never be a more beautiful you

Little girl twenty-one the things that you’ve already done
Anything to get ahead 
And you say you’ve got a man but he’s got another plan 
Only wants what you will do instead

Well little girl twenty-one you never thought that this would come 
You starve yourself to play the part 
But I can promise you there’s a man whose love is true
And he’ll treat you like the jewel you are

So turn around you’re not too far 
To back away be who you are
To change your path go another way
It’s not too late you can be saved
If you feel depressed with past regrets
The shameful nights hope to forget
Can disappear they can all be washed away
By the one who’s strong can right your wrongs
Can rid your fears dry all your tears
And change the way you look at this big world
He will take your dark distorted view
And with His light He will show you truth 
And again you’ll see through the eyes of a little girl