About the Author

Anna works full-time for DaySpring from Minnesota, where she lives with her husband and four kids. Anna is the author of A Moment of Christmas and Pumpkin Spice for Your Soul, and she shares the good stuff of the regular, encouraging you to see the ordinary glory in your everyday.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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Comments

  1. Anna,
    First of all, your daughters are absolutely adorable!! They have their momma’s smile 🙂 I love how you focus on teaching your daughters not so much about “being beautiful” – that’s the world’s way. Instead you focus on how you “bring beauty” into every conversation, every relationship, into another’s heart. As women, may we not all be so focused on the best wrinkle cream, but how to nurture our inner beauty (which comes with a deep relationship with God) and then focus on how we can bring that beauty into the world around us. No other word—-beautiful post!
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

  2. Anna, I’m echoing Bev here, but it’s so true that we need truth like this to fill up the word “beautiful” with a right meaning that fosters healthy hearts and appreciation for God’s workmanship in all its variety.
    Thank you for including the pictures of your girls in this post!

  3. Anna,
    I am getting ready to start a blog series on beauty and your words add to the meaning of things I have not yet even begun to ponder. When I was in deep grief, Jesus met me in places of beauty. Sometimes places with words were too much, but in beauty I found Him. Beauty in creation. Beauty in his created ones. Thank you for your words. I want to extend this beauty.

  4. Wow – what a challenging post for my heart this morning! I love your bulleted questions regarding how to add beauty. I think it’s safe to say there may be a social media post or two I could pause before typing – and maybe not type at all. Like you, I’ve had enough “filler” and am ready to be part of the solution. Thank you for this post; blessings to you and your family today.

  5. Wow, Anna, this post came just on time. I was struggling with the decision of whether to go to an older lady’s house or not today. Then I read “Does this action I’m considering taking add to the beauty of this moment, of this relationship?” and I’m forced to say yes, even though it’s hard to see the “beauty of this moment”… The Lord just used you to answer my questions of whether it’s worth it to continue this service for Him when I feel it’s no use!! Thank you for letting Him! You’re a blessing!

    • Mary, I love that the Lord encouraged your heart through Anna’s post. There is such beauty in just showing up with our gift of presence. I’m sure what feels useless to you is not in this woman’s heart. Blessings to you as you serve and bring beauty to those the Lord puts in your path.

      • It was good, thank you! What I find is that every time I go and give some of my time to her, it leaves me very happy! Just like the Lord says: it is more blessed to give than to recieve!!
        Thank you very much for your interest! It’s a big encouragement 🙂 !

  6. “you are invited to be beautiful” is a powerful set of words.
    Thank you so very much!!!! I will say it to myself and others.

  7. “Together, we can be the beautiful feet that bear good news. Together, we can tell a better, more beautiful story.” Amen!! And I have to say, your daughters are absolutely adorable! Blessings to you all. 🙂

  8. Anna, you’ve got it! This is exactly the beauty that God is talking about. The world thinks it is all on the outside and strives to “get it”. True beauty comes from the heart, and you and your children have that beauty, it spills out from your hearts and shows in your eyes and smiles. I too have been blessed with a beautiful 24 year old daughter and I am seeing her inner beauty coming out and my heart soars. God has also blessed me with many sisters in Christ, who support me with their love and encouragement. They are truly beautiful women of God. This is how it is supposed to be and not like the women of the world see things as a competition between us. Our faith and strength that come only from following Christ will be evident to all who come into our lives.

  9. Anna,

    You have two adorable little girls. The pictures are gorgeous. 🙂 It is so important to teach Biblical truth about beauty. The world says be skinny, right hair style, perfect make up, no wrinkles, etc. God says to look on the inside-where the heart is. His idea of beauty is making casseroles, feeding hungry people, praying & encouraging others. Let them know how to treat others & to always love no matter the situation. They will encounter all kinds of hype in this world about what is beautiful. We need to protect our young women from this worldly view.

    Blessings 🙂

  10. Anna ,
    Your daughters are adorable and beautiful like their Moma !
    Although my Daughter is 25 now, I continue to remind her of the beauty in many things , and at times she is the one reminding me of the beauty we find in every day moments ! Great positive and powerful devotional to start off a new week !

  11. Well said, Anna. We do need to guard against the world’s shallow view of beauty. A few years ago a friend sent me this quote about true beauty: “A beautiful woman uses her lips for truth, her voice for kindness, her ears for compassion, her hands for charity, and her heart for love.” That’s the kind of beauty we can all aspire to, no matter our age. It also generates more beauty in the world around us as others are impacted. Indeed, let’s add to the beauty!

  12. Thank you Anna for this beautiful offering this morning – your 2 beautiful daughters are so blessed to have such a beautiful mother – 1 Peter 3:3-4 reminds us – “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfailing beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great with in God’s sight” – beauty on the inside – the kind of beauty that lasts forever – blessings from my tender heart to all of yours xo

  13. Anna, thank you! This is beautiful. I so often forget that I am a beautiful beloved child of God. I want this for myself, for all the women in my life. You, my friend, are beautiful!

  14. I love these beautiful words! I am the mother of two sons and I have no idea what I would have done if I had a girl. You ask some very good questions but then point us in the right direction.

    This really spoke to me —> How do I explain to my daughters that women can be the very encouragement that carries us to another day, and women can also be the destroyer of our self-worth?

    Left to my own devices I can easily be a destroyer of self-worth. I am grateful for the gift of God’s love and truth in my life.

  15. Appreciate you words of advice and encouragement as we make decisions. Will this (whatever) add to the Beauty? There is so much ugliness and hate in the world, I want to add to the Beauty and see it everyday.
    Adorable little girls!
    Blessings.

  16. How can I add to the beauty? Such a simple yet profound and powerful question, Anna. Thank you so much for asking it of yourself and inviting us all to ask it too. This post put a smile on my face and is stirring my heart today. Much love to you, beautiful friend.