Proverbs 31: Day 1: What Does Beauty Mean to Me?

The first prompt in my Proverbs 31 challenge is "What does beauty mean to you?"

While there is definitely a worldly type of beauty that I wish I had a little more of... clear skin, trim build, shiny thick hair... real beauty to me is closely tied to strength.  

When I think of anything beautiful, I tend to think of it in terms of strength.  Beautiful scenery is majestic, and shows the strength of The Creator, the power of the elements, permanence, steadfastness, but also the power in change.  

• Snow flakes are beautiful for their individuality... it is a powerful, staggering thought that none are ever identical. Ever.  Thinking of the massive snow storms we saw this winter, imagining how MANY tiny, individual snowflakes were there... mind-blowing. They may look sweet and delicate... but guess again.  Get a bunch of snowflakes--or women--together and it is amazing what can be accomplished.  

• Mountains... I loooove mountains.  The mountains we saw from our ginormous hotel in glittering Las Vegas are the same ones brave pioneers struggled over centuries ago.  Roads are built, trees are cleared out, cities grow... but those mountains are there.  Beautiful, no?

• Waves... if you know me relatively well, you probably know that I. Hate. Water.  I can swim...ish.  I just don't like it.  But I love to go to the beach, smell the ocean, collect shells, and watch the waves.  Constantly changing, but relentless. 

• Music... the most beautiful music to me is soft, with an underlying strength.  I walked down the aisle to Canon in D rather than the traditional "Here Comes the Bride" because I love the combination of these qualities.  The traditional procession song is so... brash.  Here I am!! Look at me!!! I'm the bride!!!!  This isn't really me.  I wanted a piece that reflected how beautiful I felt (married friends, have you ever felt more beautiful than on your wedding day?), the beauty of our love and marriage, and the strength that came from knowing that I was making the biggest, most important and BEST commitment of my life.  

I think a beautiful woman is strong.  Maybe she seems meek, but there is a quiet strength that shines in her eyes.  Maybe she is a passionate, fiery fighter.  A momma protecting her babies, a bride on her wedding day, a grandmother providing an example of grace, faith and strength for her family... it's the strength in these women that I believe make them absolutely beautiful.

Always,

Katie