Radiance Within

The Bandage in the Biscuit Inner Beauty Appearances can be deceiving. This truth hit home for me in a rather unexpected way. One evening, my husband and I extended an invitation to a young man named Todd for the supper meal at our home. Picture this: the centerpiece of my meal was a batch of homemade biscuits. The kind that involves a labor of love—mixing the ingredients, kneading the dough, rolling it out, cutting perfect rounds, and watching them bake to a golden brown before proudly placing them on the dinner table. As it turned out, I kneaded that dough with a small bandage wrapped around one of my fingers. It never crossed my mind that it might come loose. After we gathered around the table and offered our thanks, I passed the dishes to our guest, Todd, first and then around the table. Out of all the golden-brown biscuits on that serving dish, which one do you think Todd ended up with? When he sliced open his fluffy biscuit to slather on some butter, what greeted him but my neatly folded Band-Aid! A fun-loving and good sport, Todd took delight in pointing out that bandage. But as the hostess, I was mortified! That seemingly appetizing biscuit was a classic case of outward beauty masking an inner mishap! Reflecting on this incident, it struck me how much emphasis we, especially as women, often place on our external appearance—our hair, makeup, and attire. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to present ourselves well. However, we shouldn’t neglect the importance of nurturing our inner selves—the version of us that God sees. While we may take time primping in front of the mirror, do we likewise give the same attention to beautifying our inner person? Do we pause to spend meaningful moments with God, diving into His Word and pouring out our hearts in prayer? Do we ask God to reveal blemishes within us that need His healing? 1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us that “man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” While it’s crucial to put our best foot forward externally, our priority should focus on the inward beauty that blossoms from purposefully spending time with Jesus. Like my bandage in the biscuit, what lies within will eventually come to light. May we take the time to nurture our inner beauty, just as we tend to our outward appearance.