When You Want Your Daughter To Have Magnetic Beauty
Okay, I’ll admit it. I was spying on you.
Kind of.
I mean, I couldn’t help but slow my steps when I walked by the open bathroom door this morning and heard you humming.
And then, I saw the way you studied yourself in the mirror when you thought that nobody was looking.
And I nearly gave myself away with an embarrassing sob.
That’s what I wanted to do right then and there— to cry happy tears and jump up and down and thank Jesus for that glimpse of beautiful He just gave me.
‘Cause when you leaned in close to that fourteen-year-old in the mirror, you smiled.
You looked at her fly-away curls and her imperfect complexion, her not-yet-brushed teeth and her make-up-less face, and you flashed that girl in the glass a satisfied grin.
A magnetic grin.
I flattened myself against the wall and set my laundry basket down, pretended to be fiddling with the freshly-folded clothes I’d been delivering to your bedroom before I started spying.
And I just watched you for a moment longer.
I pondered the promises I’ve plucked straight from the Word and claimed as yours, day by day and year by year.
Honestly, I don’t know where my own wishes for you end and God’s dreams for you begin, but I hope; oh I hope, that they are one and the same.
Lord, woo her heart to yours.
Jesus, be her first love.
Father, let her know she is beautiful.
Savior, grow her into the girl of your dreams.
It’s scribbled all through my prayer journal, this deep desire to see you walk daily in the truth of who God says you are.
It’s the longing of my heart to see you live a beautiful life, because that’s what girls who know they are beautiful do.
We’ve talked about it many times, haven’t we? How the Word is the best beauty treatment around, and how Jesus creates a sheen that no product can offer.
But hearing it and believing it are two different things.
Maybe that’s why I couldn’t pull myself away from the bathroom door this morning. Because when I caught you smiling at that amazing young woman in the mirror, I began to suspect that you believe it.
And I realized I’d just stumbled upon an answered prayer.
I wish I could freeze-frame that mirror moment; somehow preserve that shimmering smile so that you can look back on it as you grow.
Just in case you lose your way. Or forget who you are. Or question your worth.
I read it last night in this wise and wonderful book, a prudent reminder for today and every day to come.
And I hope it’s the epitaph of your wildly beautiful life.
“Build your confidence not on something that can be taken from you, but on the One you can never lose.”
I have no idea what tomorrow holds, but today, when I look at you, I see a girl who shines from the inside out.
A girl who is compassionate and funny. Thoughtful and deep.
A dreamer. Giver. And believer.
I see a lover of Jesus and a do-er of His word. A faith-walker and kindness-talker.
A hope-giver and big-life-liver.
That’s who you are, daughter of mine. And that’s who you were made to be.
No matter how many pimples poke-a-dot- your skin, no matter how much frizz frames your face.
No matter what the scale says or what the magazines claim, you are gorgeous, soul-deep.
And all that radiance in you? It seeps from your smile and drizzles from your laugh.
It oozes from your wacky dance moves and trickles from your spontaneous hugs.
It’s Jesus filling you up and spilling out of you in the most marvelous of ways.
In magnetic ways.
Oh, yeah, and this morning? I wasn’t the only one watching.
I might have been the only one swatting tears and scrunching quietly against the wall in the hallway, but your little sister was there, too.
All eyes on you.
She was standing at the sink on that purple step stool with a string of foamy toothpaste dribbling down her chin.
And when the littlest girl in our house saw the biggest girl in our house smile at that gorgeous, one-of-a-kind jewel in the mirror, she tried it herself.
A tilt of her head. A pucker of her never-quiet pink lips.
A half-winking, half-blinking one-eyed stare at that stringy-haired five-year-old reflection.
And then a smile, all teeth and a little drool.
And it was beautiful.
Magnetic: Becoming the Girl He Wants
This post was inspired by Lynn Cowell’s new book, Magnetic: Becoming the Girl He Wants. 
Right now,this book is sitting on my coffee table, complete with loads of yellow highlighter streaks marking all my favorite lines on nearly every page.
I so appreciate Lynn’s wisdom, her authenticity, and her contagious passion for helping young girls (and their moms) discover true beauty in Christ.
Christian speaker and author Lysa TerKeurst says of Magnetic: “This book should be read by every single Christian teenage girl… Brilliant!”
As a mom of three daughters, I know I’ll be pulling this book off of the shelf and re-reading it many times over in the years to come. I’m guessing you’re going to want a copy for your bookshelf as well! And you’re in luck, because Lynn is giving away two copies of her book right here at The Overflow!
Just answer either of these questions in the comments and your name will be entered into the drawing for Magnetic: Becoming the Girl He Wants.
Winners will be announced on Monday, October 13.
Question 1- Who is the most magnetic woman you know?
Question 2- Why would you like to have your very own copy of Magnetic?
Lynn Cowell is a Proverbs 31 speaker and the author of several books including her newest Magnetic: Becoming the Girl He Wants. Her passion in speaking and writing is empowering wise women to raise wiser daughters. Her husband and their three children live in North Carolina where they love to hike, raft and enjoy anything combining chocolate and peanut butter. For more information on Magnetic, click here: http://www.lynncowell.com/magnetic/.
I would love a copy of “Magnetic.” Your story was awesome. I have 2 special girls (raising my grand-daughters) in my life for whom I pray could know this sort of happiness in Jesus Christ. Thank you for touching my weary heart today.
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One of the most magnetic women that I know is my pastor’s wife Laine. She is a beautiful woman in Christ. She lives in His beauty and serves with His compassion and love. I would love to have a book on beauty that my daughter Claire and I could read together. Thanks for the great post. Seeing Liz growing in Christ and in His beauty is so fun and inspiring. Miss you guys!
The most magnetic woman I know is my mom. Full of grace and ease. She has the gentleness I didn’t get and she is a beautiful soul inside and out. I want this book to share with my sister in law who has 3 girls and who needs to be reminded how beautiful she is everyday.
My Mom is the most magnetic person I have ever known. The light of the Lord shines through her like a Beacon in the night. She is a wonderful grandmother to my two nieces, Tinsley, almost 11, and Ella 7. They are the reason I would love to have a copy of this book! I really love the young lady that Tinsley is growing up to be, and Ella is so very special that it makes my heart skip a beat. I feel that my sister and my nieces both could benefit from this book. My sister is a remarkable Mom! The relationship she has with the girls astounds me, and I feel it is a privilege to be a part of their lives. Their lives could only be enriched by winning “Magnetic”.
I’m blessed with a few wonderful Magnetic woman and am grateful for the lessons they teach and example they set! One in particular is Wendy…a humble, brave woman who is filled with the Spirit and shines His light.
I’d love the book because I have two daughters (7 and 9), who I pray understand who they are in Christ much better than I did growing up!! One stood here and smiled at the pics of your magnetic ladies!!
Oh, friend, what a gorgeous story. I don’t know anyone who can tell a story about her kids like you can. This touched me so deeply. I would love a copy of “Magnetic” because with three girls, I desperately want them to know their value, their beauty, their worth in Christ. It’s always and ever my heart’s cry. I want Christ to be their magnet, so that they glow (magnetically) purely for him.
I’d love to share this book with my 15 year old daughter to help her realize how precious and beautiful she is in the eyes of our Lord, and also with her little 2 year old sister someday as well. 🙂
Question 1- Who is the most magnetic woman you know? This is a tough one because I know so many (I secretly wish I could say me). But I would probably have to say Jen Coe…. She is the mom of 4 boys and a great example of what any guys should look for in a Godly woman.
Question 2- Why would you like to have your very own copy of Magnetic? Selfishly for me, I feel like I still need this message and wish I would have gotten them sooner in life… but mostly because I have a daughter and I want her to get all these message, I want to have them for her and to let her learn and see me as a “teacher” and example.
The most magnetic woman I know is a humble leader in our church. She handles her many roles with grace and humility yet seemingly has all the time in the world to pour into others. Through her, I learned ways to parent, serve, and worship in new and fresh ways. People are drawn to her strength, leadership and passion, but she never takes credit for anything that may come from those. She gives all the glory and honor to God. every.single.chance.she.gets. Magnetic!
I would love a copy of this book! Teaching our daughters that their worth comes from their Creator and not the world is a daily prayer of mine and my husband. I want them to grow up to be a light and a magnetic force for Christ.
Heather is the most magnetic person I know. Always full of joy, she’s raising two beautiful girls who are also in the process of becoming “magnetic”. Her life is grounded in The Word and she speaks the truth in love.
magnetic woman, my friend Kristen Schout! She is simply amazing! As for wanting the book, I have two girls and already in 4th grade we are struggling with self worth. This book sounds amazing!
I would love to share this book with my daughters, Karynna (14) and Annika (8), so that we may continue our discussions about finding true beauty that only comes from God.
I am blessed to have so many amazing magnetic women in my life, both family and friends, to single one out. I couldn’t choose. I am thankful that my 2 girls can and will be blessed by them all. I am looking forward to reading through this book with both of them someday.
I would love a copy of Magnetic so my girls would learn to love themselves better than I did at such an awkward stage in life. If I only I had the tools that I have now to know just how lovable and valuable I was to God then.
1. The most magnetic woman I know is Susan. She is joyful, humble, and secure in her walk as a follower of Christ. She desires no attention on her but all to go to Christ as the source of her strength.
2. I would like a copy of Magnetic because my daughter is learning the joy of living counter cultural and this would bolster her commitment and encourage her efforts to walk in a manner worthy, celebrating her identity found in Christ.
I would love to give a copy of this book to my daughter – my hope for her is that she grows into a beautiful, confident, loving girl !
I have a niece who’s parents have recently divorced and she just turned 15 and is faced with many decisions as any other teen except her relationship with her dad is strained to say the least. She needs to know that her heavenly Dad loves her unconditionally. She needs to know that he has a plan and a purpose for her.
I have two daughters. I want them to have the beauty that comes from knowing Jesus as their best friend, not the beauty that the world offers.
I would love a copy of this book because I have two daughters (one is 9 and the other 4) that I desperately want to have something I’ve never had…. the confidence in who they are through Christ.