This is my second attempt at Five Minute Friday, a widely followed blog-writing prompt from Lisa Joy Baker. The deal as I understand it – take her prompt (today – beautiful), write five unedited minutes, post. So here we go:
When I think of beautiful, I think of four girls in my life, girls who have known ugliness and cruelty and neglect that no one should ever know. Girls who were born beautiful, destined for lives of normal happiness and sadness and normal ups and downs, girls whose “normal” was ripped away from them by the very people who should have treasured them. They were left fractured in mind and spirit and body, but they were still beautiful.
And so these girls have spent the last several years struggling , fighting and clawing their way back through tunnels of darkness towards light and truth and wholeness, and that is beautiful.
Countless people have poured into them, poured security and acceptance and wisdom and truth and safety and love, most of all love, and that is beautiful.
They are getting better, at least on most days, and on a good day they are wise and funny and gorgeous and accepting. They are beautiful.
And I am grateful.
Tara Talks Too Much 
G’day! I’m reading your blog from 5 Minute Friday. I love the title of your blog by the way!
It sounds to me like there are four girls in your life that are very blessed to know you. I hope and pray they continue to always know how beautiful they are, even though they have known some ‘ugly’ times.
Blessings and love to you
Nicki
Thanks, Nicki, and thanks for stopping by!
You’re welcome!
Beauty from ashes
Joy comes in the morn
After sorrow so torn
Tears fall from lashes downturned
Light shines through the broken vessel
Burning inner darkness to reveal
Beauty within
Love this, and have NO IDEA why I didn’t see it earlier. Well, except for the extended blogging break I’ve taken this summer. Maybe that had something to do with it. Thank you for sharing your verse with us!
This reminds me of the verse that says he makes beauty from ashes. Great post!
I’m here from FMF.
Good thought, I love it. Ashes, dirt, thank goodness He can work with whatever mess we make of ourselves and each other.
Hi…I found your blog by way of Sophie’s Boo Mama blog. So glad I stopped by. This post is …well…simply beautiful. Just as the previous comment states, HE does make beauty from ashes. Looking forward to your future posts.
Lisa, thank you SO much both for the kind words and for stopping by! Hope to “see” you around again. LOVE your blog name.