“What?”
I countered. “I’m not pretty when I
usually take you to school?”
“Well I
want you to wear earrings and necklaces.”
“Why?”
“So you
will be pretty.”
Hmmm… I
thought. And then I remembered the other
day when I was thinking, I wonder if I take enough time outside of children’s
classes at church to weave God’s principles into her everyday life (I love that
God gave me this teachable moment). Then
I remembered a verse in the Bible…
“As
a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so
is a fair woman which is without discretion.” Proverbs 11:22
“So my
earrings and necklaces make me pretty?” I questioned. “You know there is a verse in the Bible about
that? It talks about a pig wearing jewelry.”
At this Emily laughs and laughs.
“Can you imagine a pig wearing earrings?
Would they make that pig look pretty?”
More laughter, she thought the idea of a pig in earrings was so
funny. I went on to explain how I wear
my comfy clothes to take her to school because baby brother and I usually go
walking after we drop her off.
I have
made it a point to always let Emily know how beautiful and wonderful I think
she is. From the time she was a baby I have
told her so, and will continue to do so.
As she has grown, as all little girls do, she enjoys dress up and play jewelry. These things are so much fun for little girls
and even for big girls like myself (my closet and jewelry box will attest to
that). On several occasions she has
asked me, “Mommy am I pretty?” To which
I always reply, “You are beautiful always, in your pretty dress, or your nightgown,
and even in your messy clothess. ” I want her to
know she is beautiful because she is, not because of what she adorns herself
with whether it be a fluffy dress, mommy’s make-up, or clip-on earrings. And I want her to know that her beauty is
also on the inside, and that’s what’s most important.
The
verse in Proverbs refers to discretion which is translated taste, perception,
intelligence(from E-sword's Strong's
references). A fair (beautiful) woman
without these things is just like giving a pig a nose-ring. I think this is pretty vivid, because a pig
is a pig, and a nose-ring doesn’t change that.
Neither will someone’s looks make them any better than what they are
inside. The world so often wants us to
believe otherwise, which is why from the beginning I would whisper into Emily’s
ear, as she would lay her head on my shoulder, how much I loved her, how
wonderful, and beautiful she was. I have
done the same for Joseph, telling him how handsome he is and when we pray before
bedtime I always thank God for him and how much we love him. I want to weave into their very being how
valuable and precious they are, and not only to me, but also to our Heavenly
Father. I pray that no matter what the
world may try to tell them or how it may attempt to devalue them, they will always
know their worth. But telling them that
is not enough, I am also responsible to instill in them godly characteristics
that will mold them into the godly young man and woman I pray they will grow up
to be one day. So I am very thankful for
this teachable moment and that God brought to mind the right verse to turn this
conversation into one I hope she will remember.
