Welcome to my new site! Visit with me and take a look around. Leave a comment and let me know what you think.
I’m also starting a new series called Coffee & Conversations with Women of the Bible. Please note there will be times when I will take an “artistic license” with what may have happened with these women. We simply don’t know, but the words I pen are what God has placed on my heart. I hope you enjoy it. As always, please leave a comment. I love hearing from you.
Let’s get started with my first coffee time!
I wave to Esther as she waits in line at Starbucks to place her order. Her beauty captivates me. Dressed in an empire waste peacock blue gown adorned with white lace embroidered at the neckline and flowing sleeves, she smiles and nods.
She glides across the floor and sits at the table I chose tucked in the corner of the busy café. All eyes follow this young queen, but she doesn’t notice. How can she not see how her presence radiates throughout the room?
Her innocence makes her all the more beautiful.
“Hello,” she says.
I stand and shake her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Queen Esther.”
Her cheeks redden. “Please, it’s Esther.”
“Thank you for meeting with me, Esther.”
“You’re welcome. How can I help you?”
I take a sip of my pumpkin spice latte to gather my thoughts and calm the butterflies taking flight in my stomach. I check my notes. “I have many questions for you. I doubt I’ll be able to ask them all.”
“Well then, we’ll just have to arrange for a second coffee time.” She giggles. Her face ignites with joy and the bead hanging from her forehead sparkles in the window’s light.
“When you were grabbed from your home and ushered into the kingdom like a herd of cattle, you remained positive. You even tried to lift the spirits of the other girls. How did you do that? How did you remain so positive?”
Her smile dissipates for a moment. “My father and mother taught me to always . . . what’s that saying you use these days? Oh yah, look at the glass half full instead of half empty. I choose joy in all circumstances.”
“How when your world is caving in around you?”
“By laying all troubles at my Father’s feet.”
“Easier said than done.”
“Absolutely, but He wants our obedience and our trust.”
The waitress brings Esther’s chai tea latte and I wait until the queen takes a sip.
“Let’s talk about all the beauty treatments.”
She rolls her eyes. “What did you want to know?”
“I can tell by your expression, you weren’t impressed by them?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
Her brows furrow. “It disgusts me. Beauty classes are useless. I wanted to learn more about the kingdom and how to be a queen, not about perfume and oils. Society puts too much emphasis on our looks. It’s ridiculous. Should we really care about our appearance?”
“Some would say yes to that question. Even go as far as to say our looks are how we get ahead in this world.”
Esther shakes her head. “It shouldn’t be that way.” She points to her heart. “It’s what is in here that matters. Not what color of eye shadow I wear or what size I am.”
A commotion at a nearby table interrupts our conversation. Two young girls are ushered out of the café.
“I wonder what that was all about,” I say. “Getting back to your comment. So you don’t think women should care about how they look?”
She sighs. “No, that’s not what I’m saying. We need to take care of what God has given us, but we shouldn’t obsess over it or use it for our advantage to get ahead. Or make it our number one priority in life. That’s wrong. We need to focus on our hearts and use it to lead us.”
I lean back in my chair.
I now realize why Esther’s presence radiates the room.
Her heart shines through her face, sparkling for all to see.
“I get it. When our hearts are beautiful, so are we.”
Her eyes widen. “Yes!”
“Such great truth.” I look at my notes. “Another question. What happened next in your story?”
She smiles. “Oh, that would take more time to tell than we have today.”
“How about we meet again next week? Same time, same place?”
She finishes her chai tea. “It would be my pleasure.”
Do you agree with Esther? Do we put too much emphasis on our looks in today’s society? Are we teaching the younger generation it’s how we look that matters? What do you think?
Psalm 90:17 (KJV)
And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
Well done. Applying what we know about Esther to our lives today is what the Bible is all about. Age-old beauty . . . is who we are that radiates to others.
Thanks, DiAnn! You’re so right. Age-old beauty is what it’s all about. I love Esther’s story. It’s always been one of my faves. Thanks for stopping by and for all of your encouragement! Love you and miss you. xo
Wow Darlene! I’m coming back next week! Loved it!
Thanks, Sandra! Glad you enjoyed my coffee chat with Esther! I’m excited to see what she will share next week too! 😉
Fabulous new blog series! Absolutely, the world focuses more on the outward appearance these days. No wonder so many ladies suffer with low self esteem. It’s really what’s in our hearts that draws out our true beauty. Well done my friend!
Thanks, Loretta! Yes, society places way too much focus on how we look. It’s wrong! We need to focus on our hearts. Hard to do, but necessary. I appreciate your encouragement!! xo
I agree that too much emphasis is placed on external looks and not internal beauty. I loved thinking about your conversation with Esther in a coffee shop. Thanks for sharing and have a blessed week!
Thanks! It seems the emphasis on beauty was also in Esther’s day but has gotten much worse! Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate you being here. God bless!
Great work Dar…. This has always been an issue with me as all my life I have had a weight issue. When I have put weight on it triggers ugliness in my mind because that is what society looks at. If you are overweight you are not the Barbie image. I have raised my son to love himself regardless of how much he weighs. It is like you re accepted and made to feel part of peoples lives when you are a certain size. I am so thankful that God loves me totally unconditionally. Dar thanks so much for this.
Hi Diane! You are beautiful, my friend…inside and out. I hate that society puts so much emphasis on having to look like Barbie. It’s sad. I’m also thankful that God doesn’t. I love you dearly. xo
I feel teenagers are being taught in magazines and on TV that being sexy is the only way to get a boyfriend. They need to be taught that real beauty comes from a vibrant relationship with God.
Absolutely!! I totally agree! Thanks for stopping by, Joyce!