Am I Lovely?

I was in a store the other day.

This store did ear piercing with piercing guns.

A little girl who couldn't have been more than seven or eight came in with her mom.

When she got there, she was still a bit indecisive but soon chose to go through with it.

The first thing she asked when the earrings were in: "Am I pretty, now?"

My heart sank.

The woman piercing her ears responded: "Well, you were pretty before, but I guess you could say you were more pretty, now."

Seriously? 

NO.

I wanted to run up to her, hug her, tell her she was absolutely beautiful in every way, with or without the earrings.

I didn't do it because I knew it would be inappropriate to do so.

But I almost wish I would have.

That little girl is wrestling with quite possibly the biggest thing that will affect how she makes her decisions and how she interacts with the people in her life. Every girl desires to know: "Am I lovely?" And unfortunately, the world around her tells her "no." 

Dear precious, beautiful little girl, I'm praying that in your heart you would know just how treasured you are, that you wouldn't listen to the lies around you telling you you need to be thinner, have the most expensive clothes, and dress skanky to be beautiful. I'm asking God to tug at your heart and whisper in your ears that he is near and wants to be your friend.