She married that handsome sailor
After a week long whirlwind World War 2 romance
He was the one who’s portrait in the photographer’s storefront window
Drew the crowds of swooning girls
But he married her
And she wasn’t beautiful
At least that’s what she thought
And when he left her for someone else twenty four years later
It cemented the thought into her mind
Not beautiful…not enough…not lovable…
Each time she looked in the mirror she would frown and say “yuck”
When asked once, if there had been anyone else besides the handsome soldier
Her answer was “Who else would ever want me?”
On a January afternoon, I sat there by her deathbed
My siblings and I gathered near while a harpist played
When with unveiled eyes I caught a glimpse of resurrection truth
A peek of what was to come in the next hours
When she walked out of this life into Real Life
Jesus stood, right up off His glorious throne, to greet her
And clapped His hands in delight in a most undignified way
Almost childlike in His glee
And He said, “Oh, just look at you! Look how beautiful you are!”
“Oh, how I’ve waited for this day! I’ve longed for you to see Me face to face!”
And He embraced her, the one He loves
As He gave me this glimpse of her future
I understood more clearly why her death was precious to Him
Because He couldn’t wait to tell her
How beautiful she is and how loved she is
And for the first time, she really knows it’s true
Still following,
Elizabeth
Elizabeth, such truth here. We are beautiful in His sight even when the enemy will whisper to us that we are not.
ReplyDeleteOh. this is the sweetest thing. I've got to start looking at myself in the mirror in a different way. So beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSuch a sweet moment I can now envision, for her, for all of us...
ReplyDeleteso tender...i am smiling rather wide...she was beautiful...and all the more so now...
ReplyDeleteHow he loves us so! Praise Him! Thank you Elizabeth, for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteOh, my. Such breathtaking beauty and truth here.
ReplyDeleteOh, how He loves us! We are beautiful and handsome in His sight. The enemy likes to destroy our self-esteem, self-confidence and make us feel unwanted, unloved and worthless, BUT JESUS only wants to the best for us. Love, worth, confidence, esteem, wanted, protected, accepted IN THE BELOVED. If only we all would hold to that truth and believe that truth! Now she truly knows how beautiful she is.
ReplyDeleteoh this is gorgeous, and so very true. thank you for this flood of grace today, elizabeth. bless you.
ReplyDelete*crying
ReplyDeleteI needed to read this today! Thank you and bless you for sharing this.
This one makes me want to cry. I think there are so many women in this world who need to believe that the KING is enthralled by their beauty. I think you're right that He looks forward to telling us with great expectation.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful.
ReplyDeletethat's really beautiful. oh, to keep that thought before us all the time, of His care and love for us. and of our beauty before Him. thank you.
ReplyDeleteThis post truly choked me up, Elizabeth. There are so many of us (me included) that believe we have so many imperfections because we're not thin enough, have beautiful flowing hair, statement-making clothes, blah blah blah. We can get caught up in the illusion that we're not perfect and not loved enough. When truthfully, the Only One who could ever love us enough to fill us up is Jesus! And how often to we turn to him to be fulfilled....? Thank you for this, my friend. I needed to hear this beautiful story today. ♥
ReplyDeleteBlessings xoxo laurie
Oh Elizabeth, in a whisper, hushed and reverant, I breathe in this truth and breathe out this is beautiful. This thought, this picture, this tender cherishing of her heart wounds and all, this is sooooo beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this! I, too, look in the mirror and say yuck. Remembering your post may help me see differently today. I'm glad I followed you from imperfect prose.
ReplyDeleteI needed to read this today. Tears came. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteWay to take a sad story and turn it around into something beautiful - redemption!
ReplyDeleteoh my goodness. elizabeth... i will never forget this portrait of Jesus. i am crying. thank you.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Your dear mama. And your words. Makes me want to hug my sweet, little mother a bit closer and tell her how absolutely beautiful she is. To me. To Jesus.
ReplyDelete~Adrienne~
I think most of us have thought we aren't beautiful, always comparing ourselves to others. Oh, for grace to live in the truth that we are each lovely in His sight! blessings, k p.s. have you started the blog for moms who miss their kids yet? Let me know when you do, and I'll give you a shout out.
ReplyDelete