Dresses & Muscles

     Girls twirl and dresses flow . . . Boys flex and muscles bulge -- is this not the way it's always been?  I hear the words come out of my mouth before I even taste them, "You look so pretty!" And she does.  Or, "You are so strong!"  And he is.   The compliments flow so naturally from my mouth to their ears, but something flickers inside my head and I stop and wonder, Do they know something else is far more important?


     It's so easy to build up the outside and neglect the inside of our children.  

      In fact, flattering words appear almost effortlessly . . . because we genuinely DO believe our girls are beautiful and our boys are strong, and that's good!  Our children need to know we appreciate the wonderful ways God has created them, but I am reminded of God's words to Samuel many years ago when He said, "Man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart."

     Part of our job, as parents, includes ensuring our emphasis goes WAY BEYOND the dresses and muscles . . . to be sure we're building up their hearts.  

    Our children will believe their importance is found wherever we, their parents, show approval.  We need to be reminded that it's what Christ does on the inside of our children that holds the value, then we'll be watching for opportunities to build that up in them.

     Simple ways and words make this possible -- affirm kind acts, sweet attitudes, happy hearts, thoughtful deeds and unselfish choices.  All these things (and many more) come from the heart and that is where the true beauty and strength must be cultivated in our precious children's lives.

"What matters is not your outer

appearance...but your inner

disposition."
I Peter 3:3&4