How to Talk to Your Daughter About Beauty

I was snuggling with my daughter at bedtime one night when she started talking.  I don't always make the most of these opportunities because- ugh, bedtime.  But tonight we snuggled together and had a sweet time talking.

Daughter: Mama do you think I am beautiful?
Me: Of course, Baby, I do.  Because you are kind and you care about people.
Daughter: But do I look pretty?
Me:  Do you know what God says about beauty?  He says it comes from our hearts.  The Bible tells us that man looks at the outside but God looks at the heart.  God cares about how we love people.  And how do we love people?
Daughter: Because we love Jesus.
Me: That's right.  When we love God because he sent Jesus to die for us, we can't help but love other people.  God tells us when we do that, we will shine like stars in the universe.  Think about our friend Miss ___.  Isn't she beautiful?  Her eyes shine bright with how much she loves Jesus.  When people truly love Jesus, you can see their hearts shine right out of them.  They can't hide it, and that's true beauty.  That's the beauty that Mama wants you to see and to hope for.

The two Bible verses referenced here are:

1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV):

"7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”"

Philippians 2:14-14 (NIV):

"14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life."