Thursday, February 5, 2015

Christie's Birthday



Ever famous model, Christie Brinkley recently turned sixty-one years old.
And there has been an enormous amount of attention spotlighting that fact. There have been internet retrospectives of her beauty through the years.
 Much of the focus seems to be on how age defying she is.

Now, I feel conflicted about this attention. One the one hand, I think it’s great that we’re not putting any woman older than twenty-five out to pasture. We need to remember and celebrate women who reflect aging gracefully, with health and vitality.

For example: anyone hear of Tina Turner or Sophia Loren (she’s 80, by the way).

But, what bothers me is the inordinate amount of focus we place on a woman’s beauty, to the detriment of her other attributes.

Yes, Christie Brinkley is beautiful. She’s that “all American girl next door” we seem to lose our minds over.

But what else is she? Do we speak with the same intensity about her role as a mother, her intellect, her kindness, her character and her talents?

C’mon, you know the answer as well as I do.

Scripture gives us the estimation of the total woman, the Proverbs 31 Woman:

“10A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”

What if we paid more attention to this laundry list of wonderfully pertinent features which make up many a woman? It’s a radical idea, perhaps, even radical feminism.

Woman are beautiful, but so much more!

What a concept. I wish there was more of a fuss made about these qualities.

Copyright © 2015 by Sheryle Cruse

 

 

 

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