Esther 2:17 NKJV “The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so, he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.”
We live in a time where the worship of beauty and physical appearance has become a fundamental part of a person’s success, especially among women, where many have been sold the idea that they can only stand out as a result of their beauty, thus turning them into “luxury objects” based solely on their appearance.
Beauty pageants adopt this idea, but the truth is that a wide range of beauty products and therefore much money are involved in these pageants.
This has brought about a series of changes in the way women are perceived, many women change their attitude when they enter the world of beauty. Some lose themselves in inappropriate behavior and are filled with pride and arrogance, with the idea that they can do whatever they want. Such is the case of Queen Vashti who believed that the power of her beauty and position was above the authority of the king.
The Bible shows us that in God’s plans for a woman, beauty is of secondary importance since there are other aspects that God places in women that sets them apart. An example of this can be seen in Queen Esther, to whom he gave qualities that were fundamental in saving the people of Israel from destruction.
One of them is benevolence. This is synonymous with generosity, compassion, kindness, gentleness, docility, all of which are of great importance in relationships with others.
Another quality that describes the Word is grace and Esther portrayed it. This could also be understood as elegance and graciousness. This quality both unites and gives confidence, fundamental qualities, in addition to Esther’s intelligence to clearly understand the situation her people were going through, and her courage to save them, even risking her own life.
In this superficial world, we need women with these qualities, benevolent women, women with graces who are also courageous and intelligent to face the difficult situations of this time.
Dear friend, mother, develop these qualities to nurture your relationships, your home, and to maintain a healthy marriage. You know, God can give you all of this, cry out to Him and He will answer you.
Beauty is fleeting, like everything else, but the memories of your actions remain. How do you want to be remembered?
May God help you in all that you do today.
Dr. Miguel and Irene Garita. Family Care Ministry.
Church of the Nazarene, Mesoamerica Region.