Dark Hair, Nice Smile
Dark Hair, Nice Smile
Surely You desire integrity in the inner self, and You teach me wisdom deep within. (Ps. 51:6)
“Describe your ideal husband,” I remember my high school friend Diane asking during a sleepover at my house years ago. “Oh, about six-foot-two, dark hair, a nice smile.” I went on to describe all the glowing characteristics I thought were important at the time.
A few days ago I asked my seventeen-year-old daughter, Sarah, the same question. Happily, she has more sense than I did when I was her age.
My husband (who is not six-foot-two but does have dark hair and a nice smile) and I have been talking to our daughter for some time about what she should look for in a prospective husband. Sarah replies thoughtfully, “I want a guy I can trust—someone who will be faithful, honest, and kind. Someone with a lot of integrity who will be a hard worker. He needs to love kids. And of course, he has to be a strong Christian. That’s a must.”
Good answers, I thought. She’s also been known to add, “It would be nice if he had dark hair and a nice smile. But whatever he looks like, I want him to be someone God chooses for me.”
We are often judged according to our physical appearance. Unfortunately, when choosing a marriage partner, many people don’t look much further than that. And before looking beneath the surface, they marry based on chemistry rather than character and a mutual commitment to Christ.
There can be a lot of physical attraction between people who are not well suited to each other. The most handsome man in the world could be dishonest, lacking integrity, or much worse. Prayer, patience, and a true understanding of love (1 Cor. 13:4–8) can help believers avoid making marriage mistakes.