"My poor
child, you are so ugly that no one will ever love you!"
By J.R. Miller,
"The Glory of the Commonplace" http://www.gracegems.org/
The story is
told of a distinguished woman, that when she was a girl she was so homely that
even her mother said to her one day: "My poor child, you are so ugly that
no one will ever love you!" The cruel words fell deeply into the child's
heart--but instead of making her bitter, they had just the opposite effect. She
determined that if her face was homely, she would make her life so beautiful
that people would love her. She began to be kind to everybody, to be loving,
thoughtful, gentle, and helpful. She never became lovely in features--but she
did become the good angel of the community in which she lived. It was love in
her heart which transformed her life and saved her from utter disheartenment.
Just so,
there are those whose lives have been hurt in some way, and who seem doomed to
carry their marring or wounding through all their days--but whom the love of
Christ can yet restore to beauty and strength. There is no ruined life, which
He cannot build up again into loveliness. There is no defect, which He cannot
turn into usefulness. To know that Christ on His throne of glory sympathizes
with our weaknesses and our infirmities--puts into the heart a new secret of
joy which will transform the dreariest life into Heavenly gladness.
"Your
beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the
wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your
inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great
worth in God's sight!" 1 Peter 3:3-4
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