Fresh Bread 2007 # 013
PRETTY WOMAN
WITH
A
PURPOSE
Julia Roberts 
Pretty Woman
Song by: Roy Orbison
What was it about that movie Pretty Woman starring Julia Roberts? And even the song we hear now as we see her confidently, almost skipping or dancing down the sidewalk, swinging a colorful purse in one hand and a wide brimmed hat in the other; hair flowing freely…going nowhere in particular…just enjoying being “pretty-pretty-pretty”…a pretty woman.
Every woman knows what the word “pretty” means to her spirit. She knows how it feels. Oh, that I could capture it with pen and ink, like an artist. But I have never seen it expressed as well as Julia Roberts did in the movie and song of “Pretty Woman.”
As I looked up the actual words to the song, they weren’t exactly what I was hearing in my own picture of her this morning. My words went more like this:
♫Pretty woman…walking down the street.
Pretty woman…oh, so neat.
Pretty woman…can’t be beat.
Pretty woman, walking down the street.♫
Surely it is more an emotion than a look. It’s more a feeling beyond euphoric. It is somehow being delighted in who you are, liking the way you look, and feeling very good about yourself. It has nothing to do with what anyone else thinks of you. It’s simply you liking you. And, somehow, it expresses the freedom of no longer caring what the world thinks because at last, you have found yourself and in the finding, you know you are “pretty.”
PRETTY – PRETTY – PRETTY
“Pretty – pretty – pretty”, a little bird chirping to me from time to time as I sit outside in my swing by the river. “Pretty, pretty, pretty”, like a secret language only we girls can understand. A type of melody releasing our pent up desire to prove ourselves worthy of the world’s harsh guide lines for beauty.
Sophistication, royalty, lots of make-up, no make-up, the latest styles in dress, long tresses, short shirts, long skirts, slit skirts, bikinis…too much or none at all. No! No! No! None of the above…just feeling “Pretty.”
 Not because someone said we are, but because we feel it ourselves. Not by anything we do or say. Not even that deep inner beauty our dear Lord speaks of in our hearts.
No, this is different. “Pretty” is just “Pretty”. And a woman can’t experience it to the fullest until she accepts it for herself and delights in walking in it. It’s sunshine, rainbows, cool breezes…going nowhere in particular; simply enjoying BEING “pretty”.
I NEVER SAW MYSELF AS
“PRETTY”
I never saw myself as “pretty”. Although surrounded by many beautiful women and some were even “pretty”. I guess I just enjoyed being one of the girls.
 
No, I never saw myself as pretty. I’m not sure why. Nor did I see myself as ugly. Just never considered it one way or the other…until I continued to wonder why my husband chose to marry me. Could it have been that I was actually “pretty” in his eyes, as the world calls pretty? At least enough to attract his attention?
Remember: All things were created by God for Him…thus for a purpose. Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Yes, I think perhaps what my husband saw in the natural was what attracted him to me in college. There were days I think I felt “pretty” and more than likely, it was that feeling that portrayed freedom and self-confidence, that somehow magnified what he saw as a natural attraction. But, I was unaware of this. When I no longer felt “pretty”, the glow of freedom left my personality.
WHY DID GOD
CREATE
BEAUTIFUL WOMEN?
Why did God create beautiful women, as the world recognizes beauty? Why do all women desire to be beautiful either in the natural or the Spirit or both? The outer appearance seems to be more for the world, their peers, and earthly husbands…seldom so much for themselves.
This is simply another thought provoking question. Why did God create some women so beautiful in the natural that they draw our attention?
Why are they so appealing to the eyes of others…often not being satisfied with the beauty God created them to be? What was God’s Purpose in creating them? He had a Purpose. Think about it. What was it?
We could write volumes on the possibilities of His Purpose for them.
BAYLOR BEAUTIES
 
Since God created all things and all things were created by Him for Him, even these beauties were created by Him for a Purpose. You figure it out. J We will likely come up with as many different answers as the different parts of the Body of Christ, our different experiences, and ways God has created and continued to mold us through the years.
God blessed me with many Beautiful Women in my life. The co-eds chosen as the most beautiful at Baylor were honored as Baylor Beauties. Many of these were my roommates and friends. The Bride’s Bouquet, my adopted spiritual daughters, are all beautiful girls. Through the years there have been others; many students, friends, and acquaintances. I was immediately attracted to their outer beauty…before I was blessed by seeing their inner beauty. Why?
None of these women created themselves. As far as I know, they had no say in the way God would create them. He says He knew them and formed them in their mothers’ womb. As far as I know, they had no say as to where they would be born, when, or who their parents would be. So, when they came out beautiful, so pleasing to the eyes of natural people (like Joseph as a baby was described) [there’s a hint here], they had no reason to be prideful. Just as Satan was of the beauty God created him to be.
True women of God know this and are careful not to cross the line between conceit and gratitude, obtaining a full knowledge of the dangers presented in this Gift of Beauty that opens many doors for good or evil.
STANDING FOR BEAUTIFUL FRIENDS
 
I guess I’m taking a stand for my friends whom God created beautiful in the eyes of the world. Most of us don’t see ourselves in their category…and when we recognize the challenges they face, many of us can be grateful to be just the way our Lord created us. It fits for us. We’ve become use to who we are…the clay of our loving Father’s hands.
Isaiah 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou [art] our father; we [are] the clay, and thou our potter; and we all [are] the work of thy hand.
We no long envy those the world looks upon as beautiful, but now understand they need our prayers as much as anyone else. They were created for a purpose. Have you found some reasons, yet?
PRETTY WITH A PURPOSE
Yet, “Pretty” can be even better. It has a musical sound. “Pretty Woman” is available to all women…the day they open their hearts and sing to themselves... “Pretty Woman”.
It adds a lilt to their laughter, a spring to their step, a release from the world’s opinion of them, and a care-free rainbow of sunshine sprinkles…a freshness freedom wherever they go. It causes others to smile and desire to be a “Pretty Woman” just like them.
SO, WHAT’S THE PURPOSE?
What’s the Purpose of a Pretty Woman? To me it means that she is able to accept who God created her to be. So, I challenge all you “Pretty Women” out there, to sing this song with me today. It will highlight your walk, whether a beauty queen on the board walk or a queen in your home washing dishes, you will glow…as you go along singing today.
“Pretty Woman”
[Post Script: Ladies, this works. I sang this all day yesterday, preached this sermon to at least 5 different people during the day…and there were sparkles all around me wherever I went. So, if you need a refreshing…please sing this to yourself, even making up your own rhymes to it. I did. Ha. And if you want Orbison’s words to the song, email me.] |
