Hi, loves! Happy Friday! It’s a beautiful day! The sun is shining, the universe is working in our favor, and we praise God! 🙂 So, I’ve been thinking and writing much about beauty lately – as I have been on the blog and on social media for quite some time now. I’ve been going on my own little escapades, observing people and things, and evaluating my own personal views about beauty. It’s been eye-opening for sure. Recently, I went two weeks without any makeup (which I have done in the past), and I felt more beautiful as I have ever been in my entire life. I’ve also learned more about my heritage and my culture in the past several months – the shape of my eyes, my different hair textures, the line of my lips, my bone structure – it all points back to a God who loves diversity. When He created me (a woman who is proud to be Ghanaian, Asian, Indian, and Caucasian), He had the world in mind. He had my purpose in mind – to shed light on the bondage and darkness of racism and the freedom and lightness of Christ. I’ve experienced much in the past week and couple of weeks, the past month, the past year…and God has been so good in the midst of it all.

The scripture tells us much about beauty as women of God, and the more I grow in Him, the more I learn what it means to be beautiful. Twelve days ago, I went to the eye doctor, and I felt like my eyes were being gouged out of socket, and then sewed back in (I won’t go into detail, and yes, it sounds brutal, and it was – but trust me, I dealt with it). It was painful to say the least. And, in twelve days, I watched my entire facial structure change. I watched the shape of my eyes change (which before, looked more Asian, but now look more Indian and European). I watched my bone structure change (those high cheekbones changed to something that I was no longer fond of). I now had dark circles under my eyes. I was forced to look at blemishes that were not there before. I was forced to look at discoloration all over my face. My melanin and pigmentation changed. I now look darker with makeup. (I may have to find another shade of foundation.) I put a raspberry colored lipstick on the other day, and it looked so much darker in contrast to my skin than it did before my eye exam. I’ve tried to put eyeliner on my eyes, and it wipes off in hours, and sometimes minutes. I’ve always struggled with what to use to care for my face and my skin, and recent face and skin products hurt more than helped. So, I am back to using a mild hand soap for my face. And for my hair, I don’t use any special products because I have four different hair textures. (I do use coconut oil, argan oil, and shea butter as moisturizer and conditioner). But guess what? I still feel beautiful! I feel the light of Christ more powerfully in my face, in my hair – and in my mind, my heart, my soul, and my spirit.

In twelve days, my thoughts about beauty changed once again. I saw God come to the forefront of my eyes, my mind, my heart, my soul, my spirit, and remind me of the beauty to even be able to see at ALL. The beauty to be able to see and have LIFE. The beauty to be able to see God’s creation throughout the EARTH.

Today, I have no makeup on. Just a little clear gloss on my lips. I have a headwrap on with most of my hair covered (I have been wearing my hair french braided in a high bun/ponytail and leaving this out at the top). I am fully covered from head to toe (with a little bit of skin up top – no cleavage, just skin). I’ve tried to draw less attention away from the way I look outwardly so that people can focus more on my mind, my heart, my soul, and my spirit. But, I’ve learned that people are still jealous, and people still make assumptions about who I am – even with the drastic and unwelcome eye, skin, and face change. Why?

You know, it’s funny. During the past twelve days, I’ve thought about wearing a hijab with just my eyes showing (after my eyes had changed drastically). I’ve thought about wearing a head wrap, a hijab that covered ALL of my hair – and for several days, I did. I’ve thought about wearing an Arab scarf just to see how people would react to it. Beauty is skin deep, but beauty also cannot be erased with hate, with contempt, with injustice, with jealousy if you are truly beautiful.

This is what I’ve learned in the past twelve days about beauty. What have you learned recently about beauty?

May God bless you and keep you as you change for the better – and as your face changes, as your skin changes, as your mind changes, as your heart changes…(and the list goes on).

And…can I also leave you with this? Confidence is the greatest accessory.

With God’s Love,

Porsche

Scripture References:

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30 ESV

Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. 1 Peter 3:1-6 KJV

A Few More Articles and Posts about Beauty from the Blog:

Ode To Womanhood 

Virtuous: A Woman Who Embodies Love And Grace…

The Story of Ruth: A Woman of Fearless Faith

Love Is Patient