Today is Valentine’s Day and many of us have bought (or grappling to buy something!) for our spouse or partner. It is likely an evening with special plans, and for those of us who have children to care for, maybe a favorite drink or dessert or wine at home adds a spark to the meal. For singles who are dating, to dress up and look lovely for the evening with your date could be something you are looking forward to…. or not.
When moderating an eczema forum, I do frequently come across posts by adults and teenagers worried about their appearance as they have a special date or prom coming up. For ladies who apply make-up, it can also get tricky as make-up and (eczema) flare-up don’t quite get along! And not just ladies, many males worry about their eczema flare-up on the face or hands as well.
There is one person who we can ‘date’ and not worry about judging our looks – God looks at the inside. In bible verse 1 Samuel 16:7, it is written “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart”.
Can God see our eczema? I believe so, as He even knows the number of hairs we have (Matthew 10:30). But God looks at our heart and people who love us also look beyond our appearance. While we as parents of eczema children do all we can to help our child (including treating the eczema patches promptly to limit permanent scarring or discoloration), we are reminded to grow their hearts as well – so that they will be persons who focus on the heart rather than the appearance.
Bible verse:
1 Samuel 16:7: But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
Dear God, I pray that we will grow our hearts and our children, and learn to look beyond appearances. I pray that our children, despite their eczema, will be able to find friends and people who love them beyond their looks. On this valentine’s day, I also pray for all dating eczema friends around the world to enjoy love and the company of the ones they adore.
Our heart matters more than our looks
