“Thank God. I’m so happy you’re not ugly.”

Once again, we’re back to the fairytale perspective on advice.

And while, no, this famous fairytale (I believe it’s “Beauty and the Beast”) does not say this amusing sentiment literally, it is implied in all manner of “happily ever after” beautiful princesses. So, there’s no problem successfully applying this same principle to our lives, huh? Yeah, exactly. In many fairytales, we’re presented with wicked, evil and ugly villains of stepsisters, stepmothers and witches, all contrasting, of course, our beautiful, virtuous “good” heroine princess, who, most often is a damsel in distress. So, good equals beauty princess; bad equals ugly crone. Yikes. And furthermore, there wasn’t a great deal of variety in the princess beauty spectrum. It was about the ideal, blonde, preferably, with the facial features and figures of shapely, dainty teenagers. We’ve gotten more diversity in recent years: Ariel was a redheaded mermaid princess, Belle was a brunette, Mulan was Asian, Pocahontas was Native American, Tiana was African American and Jasmine was Middle Eastern. Disney tried to display authentic characteristics. I remember a lot of hubbub about Jasmine’s “big nose.” Nevertheless, each of the princesses has that same pleasing young damsel face and figure. There’s no one without a tiny waist, accentuated curves and- well, let’s just call it out- an impressive décolletage. C’mon, really? A fairytale Lolita princess? That’s the deal? Anyway, was this incredible beauty, therefore, brought on by her innate goodness? Was she outwardly beautiful because she had such powerful inner beauty that it activated those exterior features? Isn’t that the lie? Inner beauty, translation, inherent value, is only accomplished through the manifestation of a certain look. They don’t call them “beauty standards” for nothing! Indeed, we place so much emphasis on the outward appearance, to the exclusion, or secondary importance of inner beauty qualities: kindness, a loving nature, personalities, intellect, creativity and a sense of humor, in example. And so, we’re left believing, following, saying or requiring the following sentiment in life, in dating and in mirror reflections: “Thank God. I’m so happy you’re not ugly.” First, God doesn’t make ugly. Trot over to Genesis for reality check proof: “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them… God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.” Genesis 1:26-27; 31 Next, God calls us beautiful, valuable, precious and wonderful: “Since you were precious in my sight… I have loved you…” Isaiah 43:4 “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” Psalm 139:14 “O my dove…let me see your form…for your form is lovely.” Song of Solomon 2:14 And even with all of that goodness, beauty, value and worth, God still checks our hearts. “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 That’s where the important and identifying things reside. That infamous heart! What would happen if we paid more attention to it? What if we gave it to God and thanked Him for blessings beyond, beauty? How beautiful could THAT be? Copyright © 2013 by Sheryle Cruse