True Beauty

  "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" is only a helpful aphorism if I know that my eye is the eye that matters.  Trying to be beautiful for every other eye is impossible and depressing.

When I was younger I believed that beauty was something like this: thin, long hair, clear skin, long lashes, straight teeth.  At my age (undisclosed) my view of beauty is more like this: intelligence, kindness,  having teeth (I'm still shallow- just being honest), smiling, integrity, modesty (in every sense), courage.

You might be thinking "...well, mom isn't those first things anymore, except clear skin... but now she has wrinkles...ewwww." I haven't changed my view so I can still qualify as beautiful in my own eye.  I have discovered that most of the time beauty enters my eye it doesn't have long hair and weigh less than 160 pounds.

I started working with Cub Scouts a year or so ago.  There is a monthly meeting called "round table" where Boy Scouts of America leaders in my community teach leaders from local packs.  I have observed an amazing array of beautiful women at these meetings who are respected, admired and treated as equals by their male counter parts.  They are all ages, shapes and sizes.  Their hairstyles are not memorable. I don't think they wore makeup. I can say in confidence that they were all dressed in khaki scout clothing.  What I do remember, can't forget, is their confidence, enthusiasm, kindness and deep, deep beauty.  That is beauty I want to emulate.

Farewell Friend

I attended my first Catholic funeral.  I enjoyed the music, the eulogy by the priest, and the sincere devotion of the mourners.  As the uninitiated, I chose a poor seat: one near the incense. As you are aware that I am all about smells, I found myself holding my breath.  I didn't pass out and I no longer worried that I smelled like bacon after the delicious breakfast your carnivore father had made that morning.

I wish you could have all been there for your dear music teacher's farewell to this mortal life.   I told you about visiting her two weeks before and sharing my favorite hymn.  Her thoughts after we sang it together comforted me.  She knew where she was going; that her life wouldn't end when her frail body breathed its last breathe.

She and I had many conversations about faith over the past 9 years.  We agreed on many things and agreed to disagree about those things we didn't see eye to eye on.  My understanding and respect for her beliefs grew over the years.  "We claim the privilege of worshiping almighty God, according to the dictates of our own conscience and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how where or what we may." Not only wise words but my prayer as the world forgets God and rejects His truth.  God does not cease because man rejects Him.  Man did not create God.  Man can't discard Him when pride blinds us because of all we create that we worship.  The sad result is that God's power to guide and influence us, comfort and inspire us is rejected and discarded.  He is still there.

I'm thankful for my friendship with this beautiful woman.  I love her and will miss her.  I am sure she is with Jesus Christ and is still aware of you and watching over you.  She loves you.  Just like God, she still lives.