You are Beautiful.

I had a conversation with a friend recently that nearly broke my heart. We were talking about health and beauty, and she opened up about her struggle with weight loss and some of the hurtful things that have happened to her because of her weight. Through talking to her, it really hit me how distorted our views about ourselves are and how the world pressures us everyday to fit a certain mold. To the world, we are never tall enough, short enough, thin enough, graceful enough, we talk too much, we are too shy, our thighs are fat, our nose is huge, our ears make us look like dumbo, our lips are way too thin blah blah blah. The message from the world is simply wrong.

True beauty is smiling at a stranger simply because you're happy. It is sharing the gospel with someone who hasn't found it yet. True beauty is offering a helping hand to someone in need, going to the temple or standing up for what you believe. A beautiful person does not conform to the standards of the world, they embrace individuality and are true to themselves. A beautiful person is virtuous, honest, and kind. They are friendly, understanding and compassionate. A beautiful person radiates the light of Christ.

The worlds perception of beauty has changed dramatically over the course of history, but our Heavenly Father's perception never will. President Monson said:

We are sons and daughters of a living God, in whose image we have been created. Think of that: created in the image of God. We cannot sincerely hold this conviction without experiencing a profound new sense of strength and power. In our world, moral character ofttimes seems secondary to beauty or charm. But from long ago the Lord’s counsel to Samuel the prophet echoes: “The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart”

So to my friend I say this:
You are the epitome of beauty. You are kind, serviceable, the best listener I have ever met, and a true, honest friend. I love you so much, and I am so grateful to have you in my life! Thank you for everything you do for me and for your abiding friendship. You most definitely radiate the light of Christ! Don't measure yourself based on the worlds standards because they are designed by the adversary to make you and everyone else in the world feel inadequate. You are NOT inadequate, you are exceptional! Remember this always and know that our Father is proud of you and He sees your true beauty.

With love,
Eli