From Beast to Beloved

I just got done watching Beauty and the Beast. Let me give you the low-down. The Beast was in a disfigured body due to a curse that was a consequence of the evil that was in his heart. He felt shame from how his appearance and who he was as a whole. He really was horrifying. He had hair all over, was very big, very intimidating, very unwelcoming, very unloving and very unlovable. He doesn't even have a real name! Everyone just calls him "Beast."

All this changes when something beautiful comes into his life, Belle. He could not keep the behaviors, bad habits, and bad attitudes he was so used to dishing out because she wouldn't put up with it. Slowly, his demeanor changed as he spent more time with her. He learned to trust and let people in. He also learned not to be so controlling. I think the biggest thing he learned was the significance of love (that's what the whole story's about right?). He needed to love and be loved. Then at the end, his outsides finally matched his insides. He transformed into something that mirrored the beauty in his heart...a handsome cartoon character, lol.

When I was without the power of Christ in my life, I was just like The Beast. My reality was living in a world that led to death as a curse for the evil that was in my heart. I felt shame often for who I was and what I did because I didn't live up to my own standards. When I was without Him, I was horrifying. My heart did not know love or know how to love so I was unwelcoming, unloving and unlovable. My name was Ugly, Not Good Enough, and Poor.

Unexpectedly, Christ took hold of me with his love and beauty. The more I spent time with Him, the more I became beautiful. Christ wouldn't put up with my bad attitudes or bad habits, though he was very patient. I learned how to stop controlling and start trusting. I learned that I could let people in and be let in as well. I learned that I could love. I learned, most of all, that I was lovable. I don't get just one transformation (unlike the Beast where light comes out of his fingers and toes ;P), I am continually being transformed. As it happens I know my insides mirror my outsides and I can love others the way Christ has loved me. My name changed from Beast to Beloved because He gave me a new identity.

Who knew that Beauty and the Beast was about Christ? Lol