Talking with Girls

What comes to mind when you hear a reference to a female (i.e. girl, woman, mother). Perhaps something different for each of these comes to mind, but what do they all have in common? All three have beauty that is expressed inwardly and outwardly, intellect, and most have some sense or definition of morality they choose to live by.

Our culture seems to have a spin on each on of these commonalities for example:

1. Seeking to find value in performance only based on ones intellect
2. Stating or at least encouraging the idea that value and goodness depend on ones abilities to follow the rules within religious groups
3. Last but not least, putting endless media out that fosters the belief that we must prove ourselves worthy of acceptance

When we talk to girls we must focus on all three, for no one of these things is more important than another. Many women both young and old have become confused by the messages they receive about outward beauty in particular, and as a result, recent statistics show the following:

1. 15 to 18 percent of girls under 12 now wear mascara, eyeliner and lipstick regularly
2. Eating disorders are up and self-esteem is down
3. 25 percent of young American women would rather win America's Next Top Model than the Nobel Peace Prize.
4. Even bright, successful college women say they'd rather be hot than smart.

Proverbs 31:30 warns, “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain.” One of more blunt verses in Scripture, Proverbs 11:22 says, “Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.” These warnings tell us that this is not just an issue for American women of the 21st century. There is something universal in this struggle that isn’t going away in our time. Just something to think about.....