Dear friend,

Do you remember the first time you learned something profound as a child?

I remember when the concept of "internal beauty" hit me. I'm not quite sure who it was or how old I was, but I remember having just had a conversation with a lady. I must have been young, maybe 10 or younger. I'm not sure, I don't remember much just the realization.

I remember when I left the room, I remember feeling like she was so beautiful. I wasn't quite sure why or how, I thought she looked nice on the outside, but a bit normal, like most of us. But after that conversation (I don't even remember what it was about), I had heard such kindness and care and grace in her words.

And I suddenly started to notice how people spoke, how they acted, and how they made others feel more than how they looked on the outside. I started to notice real beauty around me - my mom working hard to make a wonderful dinner of our favorite foods for us. My mom sitting patiently teaching a frustrated little Isabel how to read. A missionary aunt quietly stitching up someone's kid's injury. My grandmother's hugs - full of such genuine love so strong you could feel it.

At the same time, I heard girls my age talk about "so and so looks better with long hair or short hair". Or "you look better/worse with glasses" when I got glasses for the first time. Or telling me all about how they do this and that because it makes them look better or about this other girl who lives a couple countries over who's just the most beautiful girl they'd ever seen and how all the boys like her.

And I can see now the big contrast between what I was learning about beauty - real internal character beauty, and what girls my age said was beautiful.

Now, I see the same things. It's easy to focus on external beauty and forget that real beauty starts from the inside out.

I think of women I know today who I consider the most beautiful and I think they look lovely on the outside because I know their hearts are stunning. I think of women who serve without complaint. I think of women who love without expecting anything in return. I think of women who seek the Lord with their whole hearts. I think of women who are genuine, they don't pretend to be someone else other than they are, yet they also set out to be their best selves, not settling with their faults, but actively putting in effort to grow.

And I've learned that real beauty is quiet and radiant.

"A Quiet Radiance" is an original watercolor and oil pastel painting that is currently available. You can get more details about it HERE. And of course, you're always welcome to email me with any questions by replying here or contacting me here: isabel@isabelgracestudio.com

What does this painting make you feel? Reply to this email to let me know!

~Isabel Grace

P.S. If you're part of the Starlight Print Club and you already got last month's letter, it would help me out hugely if you would write a review on my website! You should be able to do that if you scroll to the bottom of THIS LINK and click "write a review", or you might have gotten an email about it from me! If you're not part of the club, click the link above and see what this club is all about!! There's still a few days left to join before it closes for January's letters to go out.