Saturday, October 15, 2011

Dark but still beautiful? by Rebecca Leslie



 
Hi,
Some one called me 'dark but still beautiful' today. You might think I'd be delighted at this comment but sadly I wasn't. No, no…..Don't get me wrong. I'm not one of the I-don't-like-compliments type it's just that the words 'but still' worry me a lot. This one sentence has had me thinking all afternoon. I could have been called beautiful. But no, it had to be noted that I am dark 'but still' beautiful. I am so stirred up; I could write a book about this. But trust me, I will keep this short! 
Why should someone EVER be called dark 'but still' beautiful? Is being 'dark skinned' usually something that isn't associated with beauty? Is it so distant from beauty that it has to 'noted' when the two are together? Which leads me to my next question, is beauty associated with fairness? 
I've never heard anyone say, 'She's fair but still beautiful'! 
Racism is often rooted deep within us and we fail to realize that beauty is in everything that God created. It doesn’t depend on the color of your skin.
The Bible clearly says in
Genesis 1:27 – “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
Let's start loving each other putting aside things that matter little like the color of our skins. Let's stop judging people for the way the look or make fun of them because of their appearances. 
We all have an image of what 'beauty' or 'perfection' is, in our heads. Lets not judge people who don't fit these images. Let's not point out to people that they are dark because IT'S NOT A CRIME TO BE DARK SKINNED. The Bible says ALL were created in the image of God and no where is it said that fair skin is beautiful. 
To conclude quickly as I said I would, I want to challenge each and every one who reads this mail to think about any racist ideas that we may have and lay them at the feet of Jesus. Also, let's repent if we have made fun of people's looks or appearances. Jesus only feels immense love when He looks into each of our faces.
God bless you all.
Dark but ever loved by Him,
Rebecca.

In actuality, there is only one race - the human race.

Within the human race is a great amount of diversity in skin color and other physical characteristics.
~Pastor Owen~

Family~School of Patience

 
Hi…
Life sure is not a bed of roses. As mothers most of our lives is spent pressing on, believing, holding on in faith, praying, paying bills, making beds, fixing breakfast and lunch, helping kids with home work etc.

Marriage sure is not a life long date, nor bringing up kids all fun.
There are times of joy and times of tears.
There will be ups and downs.
There will be times of endless talking and times of long silence.
But when we hold on together through the pushes and pulls of life the end is rewarding.
It's a joy to see kids grow, its satisfying to see relationship with kids and spouse be strengthened through years.
Looking back we can thank God not just for good times but also for the storms and thorns because it's the tough times that has made us stronger and so it is worth it all.
And God makes everything work for our best and binds us with cords of love that cannot be broken!


Family sure is a school of patience. Success of a family depends on having the right attitude, tolerance, acceptance and unconditional love.

Let's thank God for our families and for the good and bad times, for the roses and thorns, for times of plenty and times of want. Our Lord is faithful to see us through and bring us victorious!
Let's pray a hedge of protection around our families. There are people we know whose hearts are breaking, who are stressed out and on the verge of giving up. 
It's time to pray and command God's blessings on our family and rebuke and destroy the enemy's work.
May God's hedge of protection be around us and our families.
Job 1:10“Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land."
YSIC
Julia