A Woman of True Beauty

"A woman of true beauty is a woman who in the depths of her soul is at rest,
trusting God because she has come to know Him to be worthy of her trust.
She exudes a sense of calm,
a sense of rest,
and invites those around her to rest as well.
She speaks comfort...
A woman of true beauty offers others the grace to be and the room to become.
In her presence, we can release the tension and pressure that so often grip our hearts.
We can also breathe in the truth that God loves us and He is good...
To possess true beauty, we must be willing to suffer...
Women who are stunningly beautiful are women who had their hearts enlarged by suffering.
By saying "yes" when the world says "no".
By paying the high price of loving truly and honestly
without demanding that they be loved in return.
And by refusing to numb their pain in the myriad of ways available...
Living in true beauty can require much waiting...
We must constantly direct our gazes toward the face of God,
even in the presence of longing and sorrow."

-- portions of Chapter 8, Captivating, Staci Eldridge