Beauty and the Beast

 Today, I watched the 2017 version of "Beauty and the Beast". I gained a new perspective from it. I am learning that exterior of individuals us not everything. I have always been a looks matter type of person while I still believe looks matter to a certain extent... I am aware now that there is so much more to a person than their appearance. Beauty is found within. The beast thought the enchantress was a regular older woman, Looks can be deceiving and as we grow older, they fade. Belle saw the king in him and grew fond of his heart and actions while he technically had her as a hostage... he freed her to give her that choice to choose him and she did. That's how you know it is love, when you willingly, genuinely want to choose it, not because you have to. This movie also reminded me of the story of Ruth and Boaz. Just like Ruth, Belle walked in her favor by leaving her home, going into a new land to save a person she loved. Love comes in unexpected ways. As cliche as it sounds it really does happen randomly when we're walking in alignment and focusing our happiness on ourselves. I'm sure if you're single this a despised phrase coming from someone who has heard this plenty of times and been single her entire life. Love can come in various ways whether it's a stranger met through a mutual friend, a last-minute decision of going somewhere or even a longtime friend who never gave crossed your mind in that way. It does not always start off with instant gratification or butterflies though there are some that do... that's okay! Either way love is a beautiful thing. Don't self-sabotage something by being so focused on the exterior and having the perfect love story. We should also treat others as we want to be treated regardless of their appearance. We don't know people's stories nor is it our job to judge them. We are no better than one another.

Side note: by saying don't focus on the exterior I am not saying you shouldn't find your partner attractive. I absolutely believe we should, but what I'm saying is look at their "fruits". Are they loving, kind, patient, joyful, gentle, faithful, good, peaceful, respectful, trustworthy? Do they have self-control? These are questions we should ask ourselves and them when dating to not confuse God's alignment vs our own because feelings can cause confusion between the flesh vs the holy spirit.

1 Samuel 16:7 "But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”