beware of perfection.

"It's inside beauty that counts."

" Pretty isn't everything."

"Stop trying to be perfect."

You've heard this same old story before--dozens of times, no doubt. The three sentences that ring true yet quietly within a world like our's. "Pretty" is everything in this Kingdom...and if we're really honest with ourselves, it's a large part of our own lives, as well. I mean, come on. We're girls. We want to be gorgeous. We want to be slender, blonde beauty queens with large eyes and perfect hair.

 We want to be perfect.

I was playing around on Picnik today, using the upgraded features in a sneaky way {hint: snipping tool}. :) Hehe. I experimented with the airbrush, the wrinkle remover, the highlighter, the mascasra, the eye bright, the blemish fix, the teeth whitener...

The result? 

A perfect me.

..Or, at least, as "perfect" as I could get. I mean, compare to this, the ordinary me:

...Uh-huh.

::sigh::

Okay, I'll admit it: I wish that first photo were me, and not the second. The more I stare at it, the more my desire grows for a face without under-eye-shadows and bags, no moles, darker and thicker eyelashes, lighter hair, smooth skin, a perfect complexion, brilliantly white teeth, and sparkling eyes. Okay..maybe not *as* fake-looking as the dolled-up picture...but..somewhat similar. I mean, what more could a girl want?

Perfection is dangerous. Know why? Because there never will be true perfection. Even if I really looked like the fake girl in my touched-up picture, I would still want more: longer hair, slimmer waist, bigger eyes.

Just as Death and Destruction are never satisfied, so human desire is never satisfied.

(Proverbs 27:20)

I need to stop dwelling on "I wish..", and embrace how God has made me: totally unique and owning a face of beautiful imperfection. Will I still want what that other girl has? Yes. Will I still feel that twinge of jealously every time I see some prettier than me? Yes. But prayer changes things, and I know that if I bring my trials to the Lord, He is ready and willing to open my eyes and change my heart.

If you take anything away from this post, let it be this:

Pretty is everything to the World, and always will be. But you don't have to let the quest for perfection overcome you. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and everything else will soon become hazy and distant.

On a minor note, take my Picnik-ed photo into account the next time you see a celebrity photo. Isn't it crazy what they can do with editing, nowadays? :)

Beware of perfection.

P.S. To my commenters: aww, thank you, y'all. You shore do know how to make a gal feel good. ;) And you know what? Now that I think about it..I like the second picture better, too. :]