Eye Exam

Have you ever asked someone “how do I look?” Depending on the answer, we make a decision about what we have on or how we are wearing our outfit. In this age of anything goes fashion, beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder.  Have you ever considered the beholder when asking those questions?  On one hand, the information they offer us could be in our best interest or, their own challenges, issues and misperceptions, veiled in their opinions, may sway us in a direction that we didn’t need to go. The problem with asking another person “how do I look” incorporates “how they see.” But what if they have a vision problem! If they have a low self-image, that will impact how they see you. If their parents shamed them, it will affect what they see when they see you because their filter is themselves. I have seen countless times how people make generalizations based on their personal beliefs or challenges.  One of my sisters used to believe that she could not wear ponytails because her forehead was too big.  She was teased as a child and thus adapted all of her hairstyles to fit this belief and insisted that she must never display her forehead.  After several conversations and convincing her that her forehead was not as big as she thought it was and that it was in fact  normal, she became free enough to change up her style and even got her baby hair game on point! LOL.  Just as in this example, consider how much have we allowed the input of others to dictate our lives based on what they thought or saw when they looked at us.

Usually when someone asks me how she looks or if I like what she is about to purchase, I say, “do YOU like it?” The reason for this redirection is because my opinion should pale in comparison to what she likes. I often say, “It’s your money” or “I don’t have to wear it!” You need to remember that you are the beholder and what you see as beautiful is all that really matters.  While we may value certain people’s opinion, there is a danger in esteeming their opinion or view higher than yours.  Are you sacrificing your wants and wishes to make someone else feel valued?  Are you relinquishing your creativity and individuality to keep someone else comfortable? Instead of asking “how you look” take some time to evaluate “how you see.” If I think I am less than, nothing I put on will look right on me. No amount of makeup will make me feel pretty. If I remember that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, I know that I’m great, even in my sweats with my hair in a ponytail! I read a quote the other day that said, “stop asking blind people to proofread your vision!”  Too often we allow those who are impaired in their sight to impact our vision (perception and perspective). Today, our prayer for you is that you will have a spiritual eye exam and the Father will correct your vision to see what He sees and free you from the perceptions of others!