i love weight-lifting.

besides having nicely-shaped arms, i feel STRONG.

and when i feel strong, i feel sexy. even if my arms end up being larger than a supermodel's.

i was told today that i really should stop weight-lifting, because no man will want to date someone who's got muscles as big as his are. (mine are nowhere near the size of a man's muscles and i have no intention of making them that large... but they are growing, and i like them!)

it makes me really sad sometimes, to see wonderful young women trying so hard to be what the world says she ought to be, to buy into the idea that if you're not the world's idea of "sexy" you are not a person of any worth. so these bright young women buy into it, and starve themselves, deprive themselves, wear clothing that makes them look cheap and post pictures of themselves wearing as little clothing as they can get away with.

they've been brainwashed by companies who want their MONEY, to think that if they are not "perfect", they are not worth the air they breath. that if they don't buy the right things, they will never find love. they create their entire image based on what they've come to believe a man would want to look at. they base their personalities on what they believe a man would find attractive.

they create and concoct, derive and deprive, smother and stifle. they starve and flaunt their bodies. they inject and augment.

it makes me sad. if they only knew how beautiful they are to their Maker, the authority on everything truly good and beautiful!!!

if they only could realize that love can't be bought at a plastic surgeon's office, but has already been bought at infinate price on the cross of the Lord.

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
"Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

- Proverbs 31 -