The Kiwi

Our culture is obsessed with looks, with appearance. If a footy team loses by a big margin a coach will remark, "Well, it is not a good look."

The "houses on the block" are judged more by how they look rather than by how functionally practical they are.

We covet cars because of how they look, not because of whether or not they are economical, hold their value, have a low maintenance cost.

Tommy looked carefully at his mother's face. Gently he touched the wrinkles around his mum's eyes and said in an enquiring concerned voice: "Olay not working mummy?"

Alex looked at the figure on the Bond's T-shirt and underwear package. Alex held up the portrait of Pat Rafter to the mirror and at the same time compared his own masculine figure with that of Rafter's. There was no comparison. Rafter's body shape, neck, chin, face, legs, stomach just seemed perfect. Alex saw his own body as podgy, bloated, supported by stumpy legs, on top was a pimply face that refused to grow a crop of thick dark whiskers. Why couldn't he look like "Mr Universe?"

Kate and her mum were shopping together at the Super Market. "Mum," enquired Kate, "What do I have to do to get a body like the tennis player, Maria Sharapova? She looks just perfect! I'm so ugly in comparison. Just look at me. I'm all out of proportion compared to her." "Oh, don't be ridiculous Kate," responded her mother. "I couldn't stand it that every time you exerted yourself I'd have to put up with Sharapova's pitiful cry," "Oooaw." "Oooaw." "Get five Kiwi for me please."

Kate screwed up her nose, "They look like little ugly furry little monsters. What on earth do you do with them Mum? I don't remember you buying these before. Surely I don't have to eat one of these?"

For desert that night Kate's Mum placed on the table two colourful bowls of fruit. As Kate served herself she asked, "Mum, what are these pretty green things?" "Oh, said mum, "They're those ugly furry little monsters you picked up for me. It's Kiwi Fruit."

Don’t be obsessively concerned about and dependent on things like fancy hairstyles, expensive jewellery, or the cut of your clothes to make yourself look attractive. Instead, concentrate on your inner disposition. Cultivate inner beauty in your heart, being gentle, kind, having an accepting spirit. This is so precious to God. Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise. 1 Peter 3:3-4; Proverbs 31:30-31.

Better to be a Kiwi than depend on Olay!

Dr Keith Graham