Jessica shifted the laundry basket from one hip to the other as she crossed the room. Passing behind the sofa where Hailey lounged, she caught a glimpse of Hailey’s phone.

Jessica stopped in her tracks. “Is that Chloe?” 

Hailey held her phone out. “Yeah. Doesn’t she look cute in that top?”

Jessica stared at the photo. “Cute isn’t the right word. I can’t believe Aunt Donna would let her wear all that makeup. She’s only in 7th grade. She looks like she’s 18.”

“Relax, Mom, and don’t go calling your sister. Aunt Donna doesn’t let her wear makeup. That’s a filter.”

Jessica set the laundry basket down. “What do you mean, a filter?”

Hailey sighed. “You are so out of touch.”

Jessica raised her eyebrows. “Then enlighten me. Why does your cousin look like an 18-year-old? She’s the youngest one. I’m not ready for her to be grown up yet.”

“Everyone uses filters when they post pictures. You can get fun ones which change your hair color or give you flower crowns and stuff, or you can do the beauty filters which do your makeup and clean up your skin. The aging one is popular now. Everybody’s posting what they’ll look like when they’re old.”

“Do you do this?” Jessica asked.

“Well, sure. No one posts unfiltered pictures anymore. Do you seriously think I would post a pic with zits all over my face?”

“Can I see some of your pictures?” Jessica asked.

Hailey swiped a few times and handed the phone to Jessica. Jessica took a seat on the sofa next to Hailey and swiped through the photos. “Do you think this makes you more beautiful?”

Hailey shrugged. “Well, yeah. My eyes are more squinty in real life, and my skin is never that clear.”

“No one’s skin is that clear. That’s the point. None of these pictures look like the real you. The real you is beautiful. And doesn’t this show you that what you’re seeing online isn’t real?”

“It’s not a big deal. You just think I’m beautiful because you’re my mom.”

“You know, that’s an excellent point.”

Hailey’s forehead crinkled. “What do you mean?”

“I see you through a filter, too. I see you through the filter of love. I look past any imperfections and see the amazing person you are. It’s the same way with God. Do you know what He sees when He sees you?”

Hailey shrugged, and Jessica continued. “He sees Jesus. Yes, maybe you were selfish, or mean to your brother, or maybe you gossiped about your friends. But because you asked Jesus to take the punishment for all your sins, God no longer sees them. He sees Christ’s righteousness when he looks at you. It’s the ultimate filter.”

“I never thought of it that way,” Hailey said.

“It doesn’t mean God ignores our sins, but it does mean they’re forgiven. Your true worth has nothing to do with what you look like on the outside.” Jessica reached out and tucked a strand of Hailey’s hair behind her ear. “Your father and I have been married for 22 years. When we met in college, he was on the soccer team and he worked out all the time. He was in great shape. He had a thick head of black hair. Classically handsome in every way.”

“So much for the thick hair,” Hailey said.

Jessica laughed. “True. He’s gained about 25 pounds and his hairline has scooted back a bit. But does that mean I love him any less? Of course not. I love him more because we’ve been through so many things together. My love for him has nothing to do with what he looks like.”

“That’s good for Dad,” Hailey said. “He’d be lost without you.”

“Honey, no one looks perfect, and you shouldn’t try to. The people that matter will love you for who you are.”

“I guess you’re right, mom. Here – lean in.”

Hailey snapped a selfie of the two of them, then posted it to her feed. #unfiltered #momandme

Genesis 1:27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

1 Samuel 16:7  For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

2 Corinthians 5:21: God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

God, it’s easy to focus on our appearance. We live in a materialistic and shallow society. Help us to remember our worth is not in our physical beauty. Help us be the kind of people who are beautiful on the inside, and help us to see others the same way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.