I wonder…how much do we really judge based on externals? “He’s hot,” “she’s hot” are frequent descriptors teens use in everyday conversation. We’re not immune as parents. Why do we secretly enjoy it when our kid dates an attractive guy or girl? Don’t we want our teen to believe it when we say “character counts”?
If we want to direct our teens to think about how they might be affected by a culture that values looks, perhaps the following provocative sayings might lead to interesting conversation around the dinner table tonight:
Boys think girls are like books. If the cover doesn’t catch their eye they won’t bother to read what’s inside. – Marilyn Monroe
That which is striking and beautiful is not always good, but that which is good is always beautiful. – Ninon de L’Enclos
You can take no credit for beauty at sixteen. But if you are beautiful at sixty, it will be your soul’s own doing. – Marie Stopes
One story I tell in the classroom is about my 20-something friend who married a young woman who is attractive, yes, but not drop-dead gorgeous. Because he’s a really good-looking guy, his own mom didn’t show up at the wedding because he could have done better. Yet his bride has the kind of character we would all want in a daughter or daughter-in-law! Our culture says he lost out…but I say, “Well done!”