Hidden Beauty

“The mystery of the feminine heart was meant to be a good thing, by the way.” ― Stasi Eldredge

So, I went for a walk, on a break between visits for work today. The sky was overcast, and yours truly, silly me, donned a pair of sunglasses. As in, I walked back to my car, as though I had forgotten something, and replaced my glasses for sunglasses. Why? My eyes are sensitive? No. The sun sort of came out for like 2.5 seconds? Maybe? I wanted to hide my face?

On my walk, I saw other women, sort of like me, giant hats covering their faces. Protection from?? The nonexistent sun… Maybe the sweat they intended to work up? Like me, any person that walked by heads down, faces turned the opposite direction. Then, I remembered a passage from a book I’m reading with my son, describing women as “hiding their beauty…” (Something like that.) Huh, we’re all doing that, I thought to myself..

An elderly gentleman, startled me out of my thoughts, “Hi, how are you?” He asked. I responded, my voice unnatural in my own ears. My siblings used to point out when I spoke to strangers, or people with whom I was uncomfortable, my voice was higher than usual. Which means it was fairly high.

“We want beauty that can be seen; beauty that can be felt; beauty that affects others; a beauty all our own to unveil.” — Stasi Eldredge

After that encounter, I forced myself to stand a little taller. I was not invisible, but able to be seen. As though my magical sunglasses somehow hid me from the world surrounding me. It’s funny the way we feel about ourselves sometimes.

I recall my eldest daughter about the ages of 2-3 and her blankie. Not only did this thing go everywhere with us since birth, but she would put it over her head and creep through the house when she was supposed to be in bed. Her dad and I were always worried that she would fall down the stairs! We’d call her name, “We see you.” “You have your blankie over your head.” But she would still tiptoe to the playroom, or anywhere else, haha! You don’t have to teach a little girl to hide! I suppose her motto was, “If I can’t see you, you can’t see me.”

If I can’t see you, you can’t see me.

How many of us live our lives this way? Shying away from this situation or that person? And, why? I’m asking because I’m the first person to hide myself away! But, we can’t live this life this way. It takes intentional effort, God, to stop being like this…

All women have a beauty to share with the world.

*Original Photo*