Olive

I half listened to/half read Olive by Dinah Maria Mulock while I was sick with strep throat this fall.  I found it first on Librivox and then for free on my Kindle at Amazon.  Oh, this was a good, good story!  I love this author and want to read more of her books. 
Olive is about a girl who is born with a defect that makes her ugly.  But through the story, she becomes beautiful - not necissarily on the outside, but in her character, through loving others.  I love this because, of course, there are features in myself I wish I was not born with.  Doesn't everyone feel this way at times?  And yet, she loves and is loved.  Here's my favorite quote:

For dispelling all doubts, healing all wounds, fell the words of her betrothed husband - tender, though grave: "Olive, if you love me, and believe that I love you, never grieve me by such thoughts again.  To me you are all beautiful - in heart and mind, in form and soul."  Then, as if silently to count up her beauties, he kissed her little hands, her soft smiling mouth, her long gold curls.  And Olive hid her face in his breast, murmuring, "I am content, since I am fair in your sight, my Harold - my only love!"  (Kindle Location 5398)

I would love for my girls to read this when they are going through the teenage years.  I remember when a teen (and even now) on days I felt particularily ugly to look at, I would ask God to at least let my husband think I was beautiful.  Jared tells me I'm beautiful all of the time, but it is hard to believe it.  I could relate to Olive learning to accept that her husband thought her beautiful.  And to be content in his love and opinion of her.  And of course, Christ's opinion is what matters most of all - and He thinks a gentle and quiet spirit - one humble to Him - is beautiful.  Sometimes, I just have to shut out what the world defines as beauty, and trust that God didn't make a mistake when He formed me in my mother's womb.  I have to trust in His definition of beauty and praise Him for answering my prayers for my dear husband.