Read Philippians 4:8

“Whatever is lovely—think about such things.”

Glamor has been a goal of some women for years.  In older films, there often was a chorus line of beautiful women dressed in flowing gowns.  Their hair was all pulled back close to their heads and sometimes they wore giant headdresses.  They usually had sparkling jewelry dangling from their ears, necks and wrists.  This was supposed to be the standard for being “lovely.”  Something every woman should aspire to.

But is that really lovely?

What do you think of as lovely?  Is it a butterfly, a baby’s laugh, beautiful flowers, a snow-covered tree or a cuddly puppy?  God has given us these things to think about in times of trouble, when we think we are at our wits end, after a long tiring day of coping with life. We can think on these things, smile, and see God.

When I think of lovely, I think of a young lady I met about 50 years ago while working at a home for handicapped children.  Her name was Renee.   I worked with about 20 different children but Renee is the one I think of when I think of lovely.   She was far from what the Hollywood elite would think of as “lovely.”   She was overweight.   Her legs and arms were all twisted, making her wheelchair bound.   Her oversized teeth made it impossible for her to close her mouth completely and so she often drooled when trying to talk.  She couldn’t speak clearly so it was really hard to understand what she was trying to say.    But, there was a sparkle in her eyes, a gentleness in her crooked smile that showed a true “loveliness.”  She may not have had jewels hanging from her body but she had a heart of gold. When she and I would have a private chat, she intently listened and, although she couldn’t verbally respond, she let me know she understood by her genuine belly laughs that almost threw her out of her wheelchair.  Although her body was twisted, she had a sharp mind that I am sure most people missed because they couldn’t get past the way she looked on the outside.  That is a real shame because they missed out on a chat with a lovely lady.

I don’t know whatever happened to Renee but, when I read the verse about thinking on things that are lovely, I think of her and smile. I truly think that God put Renee and me together, even for a short time, to let me know to look beyond the outside of people, beyond the skin color, beyond the circumstances into the loveliness inside and see the heart of God!

Think back on your life and see if you might have crossed paths with your own “Renee.”

Someone who makes you smile just thinking about them, not because of what they looked like but because of who they were!  If you still have contact with them, why not jot a note to them or give them a call to tell them how very special they are to you and how you thank God that you met.

In what way can you have the same effect on others?

Pat Arnold