A Compliment to Active Beauty

My double stroller’s quite the gift
It gives my children both a lift
I get to run, they get to ride
We all enjoy the air outside

One day while jogging thus behind
A question trotted through my mind:
Why am I praised for exercise
More than I am for being wise?

Don’t get me wrong, I like the smiles
Shot my way o’er sweaty miles
They aren’t trying to insult
Can commendations have a fault?

But often compliments are placed
Not on our souls but on our waists
On what we own or what we wear
Our jewelry or our new-cut hair

Somehow I do sincerely doubt
That I’d obtain the self-same clout
From wiping snotty nose of son
Compared to running marathon

I would not get as many smiles
From those within grocery aisles
Were I to withstand child’s rant
(My toddler wants to roam, but can’t)

Rather than support respect
They all would want me to defect
But for the mom who well dissents
Alas there are no compliments

Though beauty was first God’s invention
We make it just one dimension
Easier to say “Nice earrings!”
Than to praise the deeper things

While we should not go spite our faces
Or disdain cosmetic graces
Beauty’s more than being thin
Or having super-model skin

It’s living life with energy
And loving those God brings to me
And though our culture says it’s true
Health doesn’t always come “Size 2”

Culture does not oft sing anthems
Of not giving in to tantrums
Honest work or being pure
Of love that isn’t keeping score

Choosing people over profit
Standing firm when crowd says “drop it”
Of changing diapers, paying bills
Or taking care of parents ill

Truthful, loving confrontation
These aren’t lauded by the nation
But while we all can point and sigh
We Christians also buy the lie

For as it is, we often feel
So restless without abs of steel
We may spend thousands on a gym
And kill ourselves to get real slim

External beauty’s so divine
We lose the inches and our minds
Eating grapefruit till we’re sick
Conforming to a “lovely” stick

We tear through makeup catalogs
To steer our way through fashion’s fog
We trim our noses, bleach our teeth
But truer beauty lies beneath

While faces surely have their part
The real thing lives in tranquil heart
Now anchored firm against mad tide
Within our Prince who for us died

For Jesus did not judge by sight
He praised great faith and widow’s mite
He lives and gives us hearts anew
Forget the mirror for this is true

Lovelier than perfume’s essence
Is life fragrant with Christ’s presence
Daughters of the Most High King
Beauty’s our identity

Though some find us unattractive
Beauty’s deepest when it’s active
Flowing from beneath the skin
Colors every thought and action

So as well as clothes that flatter
Let’s commend the things that matter
Like confessing, killing pride
Seeking those on life’s outside

Helping tired single mothers
Trusting God and hon’ring others
Fighting against Satan’s lies
Hugging toddlers when they cry

Seeking justice and forgiveness
Giving more and hoarding less
Hating sin when crowd is lenient
Loving when it’s inconvenient

To such things I tip my hat
To inner beauty lived like that
Not founded upon cute makeup
But welling from within clean cup

Let’s not stress o’er mere externals
But praise more of life’s eternals
And express our satisfaction
Seeing beauty shine through action