A Southern Belle

Southern Belles.

I recently got a couple of exceptionally cute t-shirts from Southern Belle. Unfortunately, they sell Christian and non-Christian t-shirts. I don’t agree with some of the “Southern Belle” sayings, except for the ones like “Some days aren’t worth the makeup!” The t-shirts I got are Truths of God or Bible verses. So adorable!

So, I had to do some "Southern belle" research to see how my previous ideas corresponded with today's modern view of a southern belle; thus, coming up with a twist on the version of the word. The word is derived from the French belle, meaning beautiful. It’s an “archetype for a young woman of the American Old South’s antebellum upper class.” “A Southern belle epitomized Southern hospitality, cultivation of beauty and a flirtatious yet chaste demeanor.” They are not “a symbol of repressed, corseted young women.” The classic Southern belle has an influential and inspirational attraction for people.

“Southern belle” has such a charming ring to it. When I think Southern belle, I think of femininity at it’s finest. I think femininity as God intended. A girl’s desire to be beautiful is innate. Unfortunately, many of us who could be Southern Belles are desperate, lonely, insecure, and hopeless. We are plagued by eating disorders, abusive relationships, emotional breakdowns and sexual chaos. The new definition of a Southern bell should be a sparkling, vibrant, world-altering Christ-like version of femininity. Tenderly Jesus has opened my eyes to see how far from a Southern belle I was living. He has shown me a glorious pattern for my life that He wants—His pattern. A Southern belle separates her life from the pollution of the world. She’s in the world but not of it. She worships her Father with every breath she takes. We were created to shine with heavenly beauty, to radiate with Christ-like femininity loveliness, and to sparkle with the lily-white purity of Him. A Southern belle allows Jesus to deliver her, heal her, restore her, capture her, empower her, and transform her. A Southern belle lets Jesus occupy every waking thought, action, attitude, word and decision. A Southern belle is virtuous; she shows strength, might, valor, and power. A Southern belle seeks to live an existence that glorifies her Savior in the highest ways. She is called to live an existence that other women would never attempt! A Southern belle realizes that her pretty face and striking personality aren’t really stunning apart from Jesus Christ. She does not possess anything gorgeous or worthwhile in and of herself.

A Southern belle comes humbled before her Savior at the cross unworthy with her dirty soul. Defiled and tainted. But with hope that He alone can make her life worthwhile! She embraces her unworthiness and acknowledges that she has no hope outside of the redeeming power of Jesus Christ. That is when her deliverance and freedom come! A Southern belle desires that her outward beauty only be a reflection of her inner life. A Southern belle asks God to reveal selfish patterns in her life. She asks forgiveness and to be remade in each of those areas...