Here's to 2013

Dear Beautiful,

As 2012 comes to a close, I cannot help but do some reflecting.  I know, I am officially jumping on the bandwagon as cheesy as it may be.  Nevertheless, the close of one year and the beginning of another is a good time to reflect.

For us, 2012 was full of many blessings, but also some painful experiences.  But because of those experiences, I know I am not the same person I was when the year began.  My heart has some wounds that have not yet healed, but I have also grown in ways I never would have.

I am thankful I am not the same person I was a year ago.  Time brings growth, maturity, wisdom, and beauty beyond skin deep, beauty that magnifies with time.  Although we buy age defying creams, dye our hair to hide the gray, and get plastic surgery in hopes that these things will help us withstand the effects of time, another year comes and goes and we become a year older.  No matter what we try, our physical beauty fades away.

I want true beauty, beauty that is beyond skin deep, beauty that magnifies with time.  As we grow and mature, our hearts become even more beautiful.  That's what I want.  I don't want to be the same person in 2013.  I want to yell less.  I want to apologize quicker.  I want to be less of a control freak.  I want to worry less.  I want to have less of my plans and trust God more.

These are a few of my hopes for 2013.  I want to be a more beautiful person.  I want to allow God's beauty to shine brightly through me.  And this is my hope for you too.  May you continue to grow and mature and brightly shine God's beauty, true beauty, beauty beyond skin deep.

Beauty Tip #12:  Make a list of your hopes for 2013 - hopes that are focused on your inner beauty, and ask God to help bring change in those particular areas.