As the seasons change around us, each of us rotate through personal seasons of change. We feel renewal, we experience failure. Perhaps what we fear most is the chill of winter when all our coverings fall and we must show the world our true soul.

Trees personify birth, growth, and death in such a tangible form for us to witness each year. And yet we fail to embody the gracefulness of their changes in our own life.

We’ve all witnessed the blossoming of their leaves and flowers and even fruit in the spring. We’ve all held our breath in awe of the radiance of their fall leaves.

Yet in winter, their branches are bare—exposed. And then spring comes once again and they are adorned in full glory once more.

This annual occurrence serves as a reminder to us all—to endure each season with grace, eager to produce fruit, willing to let go, and strong enough to be vulnerable.

In the starkness of winter, something beautiful occurs. Bare trees are strung up with lights. Trees become an embodiment of light and goodness.

No one cares that the trees are bare. All anyone can see is beauty.

When things in our lift shift, we can find ourselves eager to hide. So often we want to be seen for our accomplishments, our beauty, ignorant to the beauty of our vulnerability.

For it is in vulnerability that true beauty is found. We may wish to hide ourselves in the brilliance of our accomplishments, but when we fail, when life changes, what then?

Like a brightly adorned park tree, beauty is discovered when the pretenses fall and we are left with our bare soul. Others cannot help but look in awe and appreciation when we illuminate the core of who we are.

We are beautiful.

We are lovely creations of God. We are beautiful when we succeed; we are beautiful when we fail. We are His.

And that is enough. That’s enough!

We do not need layers of accomplishments to be appreciated. Our value is not derived from those things. We can strip ourselves of external titles and stand as ourselves—a glorious creation.

String up the lights! You are beautiful. Declare your worth in Christ.

Be a light in the dark. Don’t hide yourself away.

When the winter comes and all your leaves fall to the ground, stand tall. Know the beauty of your soul, the depth of your worth, and be a light shining bright into the dark night.

Because no one can see how beautiful you are until they can see you as you are.