elaina Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 Authentic Beauty is a book written by Leslie Ludy that is awesome! Here are a few quotes from the book. What do ya'll think? Peace and God bless. Page 26 of Authentic Beauty by Leslie Ludy "... Guys in my world seemed to value only girls who initiated relationships, flirting, and sex - girls who had absolutely no boundaries around their hearts or bodies. At the age of fifteen, I found myself being molded into the kind of girl the world expected me to be. The next season of my life was by far the most hellish I have ever experienced. My desperate searching for a prince who would cherish me forever had become my demise. I had listened to the voice of the culture and become the young woman they convinced me to be, hoping that the result would be the discovery of a happily ever after tale. Instead, my heart was mercilessly trampled time and time again...." Page 36 of Authentic Beauty by Leslie Ludy "Over the past serveral years, I have interacted with thousands of young women my age. Rarely have I met one who didn't relate to my childhood longing to become a beautiful princess. Whether we grew up wanting to sing like Orphan Annie, save galaxies like Princess Leia, or rescue helpless victimes like Wonder Woman, whether we were a tree-climbing tomboy with skinned knees or a tea-pouring cherub in ringlets: whether our ambition in life was to run a household or run the United States - there seems to be a common bond we share... a deep, unshakeable, intrinsic longing to be tenderly cherished forever by a noble prince to whome we may entrust our heart." "...But we live in a culture that is out to destroy all such dreams with a vengeance. Most of us are incredibly young and naive when our innocent hopes are trampled, whether by an abusive father, a divorce-riddled family, a merciless sex predator, or simply the cruel taunts of our classmates. " Page 37-38 of Authentic Beauty by Leslie Ludy "...We live in a world that seeks to destroy all that is princesslike and feminine within us. From a very young age, our world mocks any longing for tender romance or true love that might linger in our heart. Our culture tells us that instead of dreaming about giving our heart to some mythical knight in shining armor, we would be far wiser to spend our time looking out for ourselves. From the time we are ten years old (or younger in many cases), teachers like Miss Thomson turn our body into a scientific chart, inform us that sexuality is nothing but an animalistic impulse, and scoff at any of us who would dare dream that there could be more. Little boys who might otherwise be preoccupied with baseball cards and G.I. Joes learn- whether from health class, television, or their dads and older brothers - that in order to become "men" they must examine, objectify, critique, and lust after girls' bodies while acting out their animalstic sexual urges." Page 38 of Authentic Beauty by Leslie Ludy "Sadie, a frustrated college sophomore, wrote me an email not too long ago that included this statement: "This may sound crazy, but I am starting to get the feeling that every guy I meet is only spending time with me because he wants to use my body." But unfortuneately, it does not sound crazy. It sounds like reality. No wonder so many young women are throwing their hands up in defeat and settling for a broken heart and shattered dreams. In today's world, it can be nearly impossible for us to believe that there could ever be anything more. A spunky brunette named Carrie told me recently, "Leslie, it's not fair! You married the last true knight in shining armor on the planet! No more exist!" I have heard that statement countless times from young women. When they observe my relationship with Eric (my adorable husband) or hear about the romance of our love stroy; it strikes them as so unusual that they begin to wonder if another man like him can ever be found. Yes, Eric and i did have an amazing love story... However, my love story with Eric is only a small reflection of a much deeper initimacy that I share with someone else... " Page 39 of Authentic Beauty by Leslie Ludy "My true Prince is not Eric. My true Prince is Jesus Christ. Eric, with all his amazing qualities, could never meet the deepest needs of my heart the way my true Prince has. If not for the tender love of my true Prince, my love stroy with Eric would not have been possible. The romance of my love story with Eric is only a faded glimmer of the spectacular beauty of the love story I share with my true Prince, Jesus Christ. In fact, my childhood longing to be loved and cherished by a tender knight that I could follow to the ends of the earth was placed in my heart by Him. Jesus Christ alone can fulfill that desperate longing." Link to post Share on other sites
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