Studying your beauty

The following poem is the third reflection for our May focus on the spiritual practice of Study. Read more here about our exploration of the spiritual disciplines in 2025 through creative and reflective writing.

By Brooke Turbyfill

You are beauty
Even with the rage
That pours from tears
Like a melting
Icicle
Trickling
Then rushing
To the ground.

Deep calls to deep
In the roar of
His waterfalls;
Waves,
Breakers
Sweeping over you. (Psalm 42:7 NIV)

You are beauty
When your face
Flushes hot
With fear
Or sadness
Or grief
Because of loss.

And yet your God
Promises
To supply
 every need You have,
According to 
His riches
In glory
In Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:19 ESV)

You are beauty
When your body
Changes over time,
From the munchkin
Who used to flip
And climb
On counters
To the woman
Who sways
A child to sleep.

You, imagery of 
Your maker, who
Increased in wisdom
And stature
In favor
With God
And man. (Luke 2:52 ESV)

You are beauty
Even with the pain
That you hide
From my gaze
In the midst
Of a journey
No one knows
But you.

And His friendship
Is yours;
As you fear Him,
He’ll make known
His covenant
To you. (Psalm 25:14 ESV)

You are beauty
In the eyes
Of the God 
Who said,
“She is good.”
When He made you,
He knew
What your path
Would look like
Today.

For in Him
You live
And move
And have your being. (Acts 17:28 NKJV)

And you are beauty
Held
In His capable arms
For such a time
As this,
When you recognize
The beauty 
He contains
In His suffering Love
For you.

After this, Jesus, 
Knowing that all things 
Were now accomplished, 
That the Scripture 
Might be fulfilled…
So when Jesus 
Had received the sour wine, 
He said, “It is finished!”
(John 19:28-30 NKJV)

Brooke Turbyfill owns Turbowords Editing, providing coaching, editing, and ghostwriting services to authors, editors, and busy professionals. Brooke spent the first 20 years of her career as a publications editor working on creative teams. Now she works as a freelance writer and editor with a very fidgety four-legged assistant named Hope, who spends her days pacing the office waiting for a treat and a frisbee break. You can find her writing twice a month on Substack, on her website www.brooketurbyfill.com, or on Instagram @brooke_turbyfill. Her e-book 8 Great Revisions is on sale now. (And keep reading to hear about her upcoming June webinar!)

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SAVE THE DATE - upcoming webinar

Big Picture Editing: Why to Leave the Red Pen in the Drawer

Thursday, June 26 · 10:00-11:00am PT / 1:00pm-2:00pm ET

How do you approach editing a manuscript independently? How do you know when it's ready for an editor? And what kind of editor?

Not every editor looks at your manuscript with the same eye. If she is a line editor, she is deep into the process already and expects tidy storylines, fully-developed characters, and tight dialogue. But a developmental editor has her watercolor pens out, ready to paint broad strokes that help you define the direction of your work in progress. Copyeditors fall somewhere in between.

This webinar will discuss the different editing stages and a few simple ways to prepare your work for an editor.

This webinar is free for Redbud Writers Guild members (no need to register), $15 for non-members. All proceeds go to support our Women of Color Mentoring Program.

Recordings will be sent to everyone who is registered.

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P.S. Know someone who might be encouraged by this post or interested in our upcoming webinars? Forward this to them today!