To Reflect... A Special Beauty
"A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance" (Proverbs 15:13). "I have experienced what it is to be in Christ. I am poor, old, and have nothing special, except to have Christ in my heart. In Him I am strong, I am beautiful and I am happy. His presence makes my whole being shine." (a member of the church, after a sermon) People, today, worry a lot about their outside appearance. They spend hours in a gym, or in a beauty salon, or in large malls in the city. They try to make their appearance stand out, so that everyone will admire them, so that they can enchant every one who sees them. Many times they are not successful, because the main ingredient of human beauty is missing ... the reflection of presence of Christ, our beloved and gracious Saviour. When we give our lives to God, He fills us with His love and this love makes us beautiful. More than the external appearance, what people most admire in us, and what mostly enchants others, are our attitudes. A generous person, who does not measure efforts to raise someone who has fallen, who reaches out without personal interests, who always has a friendly word for who is unhappy, is more beautiful than another who is not able to do the same, even thoug h she has been on the cover of a famous magazine. Beautiful is the woman who prays, who is concerned with sharing the blessings received, who at any moment and in any circumstance, never leaves off saying: "Here I am, Lord". Beauty coming from a gym, or from a beauty salon, or any other artificial production does not have the same value as the one that comes from the inside, from the heart, from a life with God. It may not be applauded by men, but it is by the Lord of H eaven. Do you believe you have this special beauty? If so, your joy is more than certain! Paulo Barbosa A blind in ternet tprob...@terra.com.br