You are beautiful.

Did you know that?

You are beautiful. Maybe a beautiful mess. Maybe a picture of "how to make bad choices" beautiful. Maybe a lopsided, half baked, gave-it-an A-effort kind of beautiful. But you are beautiful.

I need to be reminded of that sometimes. Reminded that beauty isn't just in perfection, or coordination, or when everything falls exactly into place. Beauty happens when and where you least expect it. Have you ever seen a child covered in mud from his eyes to his toes but with a face-splitting smile on his face? That's beautiful. That helping hand you give to little old ladies who can't reach the top shelf in Wal-Mart: that's beautiful. When you forgive yourself for failing, again. That is beautiful.
Hands lifted up in worship.
Spider webs.
A broken heart that still loves.
Eyes that see past someone's exterior and into their heart.
Music played with 10% skill and 110% heart.
You getting up and facing the world every day.
Roadside flowers that grow for no one in particular.

This is beauty. The imperfections, the mistakes you learn from, the broken roads that lead somewhere amazing, the tireless work toward your dreams. Your courage, commitment, loyalty, love, kindness, generosity, honesty, patience, gratitude show beauty in everything you do.

Use courage and kindness and create beauty wherever you go. Choose to see beauty in broken pieces. Choose to see beauty when you look in the mirror. See His image looking back at you and see that you are indeed, a beautiful creation.