We have all experienced the times in life when you feel like someone just reached into your chest, ripped your heart out, and dropped it on the floor. You know those times when you feel like the deer caught in the headlights. The other day I walked in to pick my beautiful Gracie Beth up from school. When I entered the classroom she ran and jumped up into my arms like she was looking for safety. She squeezed tightly and buried her face into my neck. Needless to say I did the normal routine and signed her out, walking out told her how much I love and missed her, put her in the car and head to our next destination. On the way to our next destination she said these words, “daddy (the boy) told me I wasn’t beautiful”. At that moment I wanted to turn the car around and go have a talk with the boy. You may say that this is just a part of life but that one comment has changed my daughter and left me to pick up some pieces and teach her what true beauty is and where it comes from. You see I had to reassure her that not only was she beautiful and then share with her God’s idea of beauty. This however did not ease her wound like I thought it would. Already, the world, has taught her that beauty is physical first and all else second. When we arrived home that night she ran into her room and put on one of her princess dresses. I of course told her how beautiful she looked which made her feel a little better. Then she told me she wanted to wear it to school for the boy to see that she was beautiful. My heart hurt for her. But it got worse. Right before dinner I asked her to go change out of her dress. She looked at me and asked this question, “If I take my dress off will I still be beautiful”? My heart was on the floor as I kneeled down, took her in my arms, and reassured her that she would always be beautiful both on in the inside and out. As parents we face fierce battle for our kids minds and hearts. Prayerfully directing them back to how God views them and what He says is true beauty. Everything in society screams the opposite of God’s definition of love and beauty. Here are some ways we can give our daughter’s a fighting chance in understanding true beauty.

1. Take your daughter on Daddy Daughter Dates (open the door for her, pull out the chair, pray with her at meal time, share with her how much you love her for her and not because of what she does).
2. Pray with her and during your prayers emphasize God’s view of her.
3. Every day listen to her and ask specific questions to try and understand what she is thinking.
4. Treat your own wife with the love and respect God requires. This may seem like a no-brainer but remember that your child (ren) is watching.
5. Each month make a concerted effort to emphasize one character area that will help her focus upon God’s beauty.

Obviously this is not an end all be all list. However, we have to start somewhere and often time’s simplicity is the best option. I know that we are always looking to improve something within our self. Why not look beyond ourselves this year and see what we need to do for our kids. Fight for them.