When I was young, my best feature was definitely my big baby blues, surrounded by lush lashes. These days, when I look in the mirror, sometimes those eyes are faded, the lashes lost, the surrounding skin sagging. Recently, in spite of that, I received compliments on my eyes from three different people.

Reflecting on that, I think it wasn’t because of how my eyes look, but because of how they see. In my conversations with those people, I was listening intently to them, valuing them with my attention and honoring them with my time. Perhaps they felt noticed in a special way, rather than overlooked, and it was this that made them see beauty. I like to think it was the love of Christ that they saw in me.

Jesus, please help me see others with your eyes, and may they see you in me.

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. ⁴ Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 1 Peter 3:3-4