You are beautiful. When is the last time you heard that? In our culture, it seems the measurement of beauty is only on the outside. But we are more than just flesh, we are also spirit and action.

We are made in the image and likeness of God and that alone makes us all beautiful, especially in God’s eyes. After all, when He reviewed His creation after man, He deemed all of it “very good.” (Genesis 1:31) Sin creates a layer of spiritual “dirt” that mars God’s handiwork, but it does not destroy it; the beauty is still there. In baptism, we are washed clean of original sin. But as the dirt starts to build up again, a good confession and receiving the Eucharist can wash us clean again.

The actions we perform can be a powerful indicator to others of the beautiful people we are. From feeding the hungry to patiently listening to another, we can be a light to those we help. When we follow God’s will for us, the beauty of His creation shines through.

The season of Lent calls us to dig deeper in repentance, but we need to know what we are fighting for: our beauty. If sin covers our beauty, then making the effort to avoid sin, along with God’s grace and will, can give us the strength to battle temptations and call on the Lord for help. And in doing so, we can strengthen our relationship with God and reflect the beauty He created us to be.