Sometimes I look in the mirror and see someone who looks… well…. Hair curled, fresh polish on my nails, maybe even a new pair of glasses to help me “see” things in a different light. I’ll throw on a cute shirt or try something new, chasing a spark of joy. And sometimes, just sometimes, it helps.
But often, the outside doesn’t match the inside.
Because inside, I’m tired. I’m hurting. I’m sick. And it’s a kind of an invisible ache that no one can see but me. It’s hard to explain, even to the people I love most. I miss being with friends. I miss feeling lighthearted. I wish they could understand how heavy this walk can be.
It’s lonely.
And that’s where the real lesson about pretty begins. Because pretty was never meant to be skin-deep. Pretty isn’t about the gloss or the glow—it’s about the soul. The heart. The inside parts that can only be filled by One person: Jesus.
He gets me. On the days I can’t explain the pain or fake the smile, He sees. He knows. And He doesn’t ask me to be shiny—He just asks me to be with Him. He is my Pretty Maker. He reminds me that my worth isn’t in how I look, but in Whose I am.
Still, I try. I’ll always try—because God made me a girl. A daughter. Someone who longs to feel beautiful and seen. That desire is part of the design. And I am so grateful for the little things that help—like curling my hair or finding a cute top. They’re not bad things. They’re just not everything.
I thank God every day for Doug. My husband, my anchor, the one who sees all the hard and still tells me I’m beautiful. He never gives up on me. He reminds me that I am worth loving, even when I don’t feel lovely.
And then there’s Tatum. My daughter. My gift. The way she looks at me—like I’m her safe place, her superhero, her mommy—it makes me feel ultra pretty.
And my mom. She raised me with love and truth, showing me what it means to be strong. I carry that wisdom with me every single day. Even when I feel like I’m falling apart, I hear her voice reminding me: You are loved.
Does the outside matter? Sure, a little. But the truth is, the real pretty—the kind that doesn’t fade—is the kind Jesus fills inside of me. That’s the kind I want to radiate.
So today, if you’re tired… if you’re aching behind the makeup or the fresh manicure, remember: You are still pretty. Because you are deeply loved by the One who made you, and He delights in calling you His own.
And that’s the most beautiful truth of all.