Comments on: The Challenge of Beauty http://exodusyouth.net/2008/10/02/the-challenge-of-beauty/ finding true freedom Sun, 25 Jul 2010 17:20:17 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Verbs277 http://exodusyouth.net/2008/10/02/the-challenge-of-beauty/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Verbs277 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:00:29 +0000 http://exodusyouth.net/?p=125#comment-32 hey, I may not be a woman... but I loved this article. It was so heartfelt. I particularly related to the part when you were upset at "becoming beautiful." I didnt struggle so much with "beauty" though I did seek good looks, but for me it was stregnth. I was never good at sports. so I avoided sports. typically I retreated to books and art. "intellect" was my refuge and always belittled "brawn." I'd even make fun of the jocks saying "ug hulk smash!" truth is, stregnth is a part of being a man. and I must accept it. I've come to love it when a girl asks me to open a jar for her. ive also discovered im not bad at volleyball. in like manner, beauty is a feminine quality. and I celebrate that. hey, I may not be a woman… but I loved this article. It was so heartfelt. I particularly related to the part when you were upset at "becoming beautiful." I didnt struggle so much with "beauty" though I did seek good looks, but for me it was stregnth. I was never good at sports. so I avoided sports. typically I retreated to books and art. "intellect" was my refuge and always belittled "brawn." I’d even make fun of the jocks saying "ug hulk smash!"

truth is, stregnth is a part of being a man. and I must accept it. I’ve come to love it when a girl asks me to open a jar for her. ive also discovered im not bad at volleyball.

in like manner, beauty is a feminine quality. and I celebrate that.

]]> By: caryndavis http://exodusyouth.net/2008/10/02/the-challenge-of-beauty/comment-page-1/#comment-27 caryndavis Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:13:11 +0000 http://exodusyouth.net/?p=125#comment-27 Leslie, I appreciate your honesty in sharing this. It is a confusing world to be a woman in and there were so many things about my femininity that I myself attempted to reject and hide out of fear of being mistreated or mishandled – either by women or men. I appreciate remembering that God radiates his beauty through us and that is not something to be afraid of. Exploring how God has created me and living in the fullness of that has been scary and vulnerable, but refreshing when I see how he uses that to minister to others, and reflect Him. As I trust him more with how he designed me, and trust others to be able to "handle me with care”, I experience fulfillment in my heart of what He has promised. I have found myself becoming more confident and content with who I am, as he continues to grow me. In that, I experience God’s favor and grace. Not that he loves me because of my expression of beauty, but He is glorified and rejoices as I allow him to make me more like him, and express myself as the daughter he created me to be. A mysterious thing has happened that I have begun to embrace things that may be more stereotypically feminine because I want to, not because I feel forced. Leslie, I appreciate your honesty in sharing this. It is a confusing world to be a woman in and there were so many things about my femininity that I myself attempted to reject and hide out of fear of being mistreated or mishandled – either by women or men.

I appreciate remembering that God radiates his beauty through us and that is not something to be afraid of. Exploring how God has created me and living in the fullness of that has been scary and vulnerable, but refreshing when I see how he uses that to minister to others, and reflect Him. As I trust him more with how he designed me, and trust others to be able to "handle me with care”, I experience fulfillment in my heart of what He has promised. I have found myself becoming more confident and content with who I am, as he continues to grow me. In that, I experience God’s favor and grace. Not that he loves me because of my expression of beauty, but He is glorified and rejoices as I allow him to make me more like him, and express myself as the daughter he created me to be.

A mysterious thing has happened that I have begun to embrace things that may be more stereotypically feminine because I want to, not because I feel forced.

]]> By: pitchapimms http://exodusyouth.net/2008/10/02/the-challenge-of-beauty/comment-page-1/#comment-20 pitchapimms Sat, 04 Oct 2008 02:42:20 +0000 http://exodusyouth.net/?p=125#comment-20 this was a lovely article! i get what you mean about not wanting to try and dress up because you know you're not going to look good and not falling into that feminie mould from young. thank you for this! this was a lovely article! i get what you mean about not wanting to try and dress up because you know you’re not going to look good and not falling into that feminie mould from young. thank you for this!

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