Beauty

"Beauty isn't about having a pretty face. It's about having a pretty mind, a pretty heart and a pretty soul!"

Beauty

I've learned that beauty has nothing to do with the designers you wear or the style of your hair,

But, everything you said you would do and be and for every battle you fought and won to get there.

Beauty has nothing to do with the car you drive or how much money you make,

But for every dream you chose to chase and for every risk you're willing to take.

Beauty isn't about how popular you are or how many people know you, 

But, about how many people lives you've impacted by every time keeping your word and always coming through.

Beauty isn't about where you work or what you do for a living,

But, about to those around you how much love, time, support, etc. you put in instead of just the money you're giving.

Beauty isn't about what people see when they look at your surface,

But the energy, genuineness, love and loyalty they feel in your presence and for being exposed to your real purpose. 

Beauty is more than the makeup you use to cover your skin, 

It's about character and personality, things that reveal exactly who you are within.

I don't that I am beautiful because of how I look or what people see on the outside,

I feel that I'm beautiful for staying true to myself and showing you the exact things others try to hide. 

Most times my words and poems have been transparent enough for you to get a glimpse of my life, 

But not once did I vow to be perfect or pretend as if in life everything I do or say is right. 

For me beauty is just that, the confidence, love and respect that I hold inside of me,

Because no matter how I look, dress, talk etc. the only person whose opinion matters is my own,

And with that being said I am beautiful inside and out because when I look in the mirror that's exactly who and what I see.

I am not afraid to admit that I have flaws and have made my share of mistakes. I, too, have looked in the mirror and didn't always like the person that I saw. I use to feel as if I wasn't good enough or pretty enough or I hadn't accomplished enough. But, I had to ask myself, "to whose standards are you not these things?" I had to remind myself "to not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of my mind!" (Romans 12:2) I had no one expectations to live up to but my own. And I had no one to compete with but myself. I have gotten to a place in life where I remind myself and repeat daily affirmations on things like, "I am enough, I am a great mom, I have accomplished some things, and today will be a good day." Never let anyone tell you that you do not posses great beauty. The beautiful person you are is already within and just waiting on you to figure it out and release them. The only person whose opinions of you matter are those of your own. Only God can judge you!

"Beauty is not flawless; it shines even through your flaws...so, remember that a flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it, it just blooms!"

"BE YOUR OWN KIND OF BEAUTIFUL!" and just in case no one told you on today...

                          YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!

©2017. Kiara Giles. All Rights Reserved.

Freedom

Looking through past and present pictures of my daughter from Fourth of July inspired this...Enjoy 😊

Freedom.

Red, white, and blue,
Well...red, white, and cute.
Thank God that I have the freedom to love on you,
To choose how I parent, to choose the activities we do.

Independence Day yet we're not always so independently free,
But thank God that she has a mother like me.
To teach her all about unalienable rights, the constitution, and the abolishment of slavery.
To try to shield her from as much hatred, criticism and racism as I can,
To teach her that she is beautiful, she has a voice, and she has what it takes to stand.

Black and proud,
Let her melanin pop loud.
Because too many people walked, boycotted and fought for her.
To not live as she pleases,
And take pride in the things she believes in.
Of course just because of the color of your skin, you'll face injustices,
Because sad to say, yes the world is divided but not equally.
So, know that one NO does not mean it's the end of the world,
God will say YES, He has the last word,
Always remember that you ROCK my little black girl.

And if you don't know anything else, you will no this,
"I'm going to protect you from all hurt, harm, and danger until my least breath!
I will fight for you and with you with everything in me until I have nothing left."

Because see we're free to follow our dreams,
To create our own paths and choose our own destiny.
Kaidy you can do and be anything you put your mind to...
So, let your light shine, let your freedom ring!

Parenting is no easy job in itself. But once you add the stress of trying to do it in 2017, in the world we live in today, it becomes ten times harder. It's scary. Everyday I ask myself why or how am I suppose to do it or explain certain things to my child. All I know is that I can only try my best. I can only pray for wisdom. All you can do is keep doing what you're doing and praying that you or your child is not next. I pray everyday for guidance and strength to be the best mom I can be. All we can do is to teach our kids morals, values and respect and fill them with knowledge and common sense about living in today's cruel and unjust society. To teach them to be better than their environment. To remind them that they can do and be anything that they set their mind out to do and be! Instill in them the importance of an education. And most importantly shower them with love.

And I leave you with a comforting promise parents should take to heart...
Lamentations 3:22–23
"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
His mercies never come to an end;
They are new every morning;
Great is your faithfulness."

©2017. Kiara Giles. All Rights Reserved.

Even Me

Hebrews 13:16, "And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."

Even when you don't always feel as if your light is shining,
There's always at least one person that sees your potential, they see how hard you're trying.

Even when you don't think you have much to offer,
Your words alone can change someone's life, you've done a good deed just by talking.

Even when you feel as if you haven't done enough to help,
That person is grateful just to be able to say that they're glad the two of you met.

Even when you don't fully understand the way things tend to happen,
You realize that sometimes certain people were meant to cross your path,
And God will continue to use you to do things far greater than you could ever imagine.

Matthew 5:42, "Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."

So...I  had a great experience this morning. You never know who you'll meet and how much your help (words) may impact them.
I met a fellow writer today. She started asking about my blog and said she would love to read it. She stated that, "she was in awe of me and didn't even know me, but it was meant for her to meet me." Long story short, I didn't feel as if I had much to offer; but, she was very thankful of the advice, tools, resources that I was able to share.

It just amazes me how I finally decided to write and go to school to make a career of it and now people are coming from everywhere asking for my expertise and I'm not even where I want to be yet. But, I feel like God is using me to help someone follow their dreams. It feels good to know that I helped someone to take another step. My goal was to always be open, honest and inspiring, so that's a plus for both me and them. She's like the 4th person that had reached out to me. Now, I feel like I can do great things. The possibilities are limitless. For me and for you. Never let anyone tell you that you can't do something. If you have a dream, protect that dream. Because of them, who knows, I just may go into teaching writing courses, or starting a consulting business, I may even be a publisher or editor one day. So, thank you to those that trust me enough to reach out for help. I have people helping me and I've met people on this journey that has been more than welcoming, willing and able to give me sound advice and help point me in the right direction; therefore, I do not mind doing the same.

I'm excited. I never imagined this. I just wanted to write. I didn't think people would actually read my blogs and be inspired to start one. Or to reach out for advice. I don't know much myself about this industry but just knowing that people see my light shining is confidence enough to keep going and to keep writing. And what are the odds that my first course in graduate school for my professional writing degree is editing, layout, and publishing? God definitely works in mysterious ways.

I say all this to say that you never know who is watching you, who is looking up to you, or who sees the best in you. So keep doing what you do.  God will put people around you that share similarities so that you can build each other up. Just by doing what you love, you never know how it could help, inspire or encourage some one else, so don't stop doing it. No matter how scary it may seem or how much you don't understand certain situations, when God says move, you move. Pray about it and let Him lead the way.

Even when in life you don't think you're as far as you could be,
You're exactly where Gods wants you because He see things in us that we don't see,
So yes He could use someone like you and even someone like me.

Matthew 5:16, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven."

©2017. Kiara Giles. All Rights Reserved.