Skip to main content

Pretty

A friend shared an Elle article about one of Colbie Caillat's new songs, Try. The article talked about how she felt pressure to change her outward appearance. Hair extensions, fake eye lashes, fake nails, photoshopping. It was getting to her. So she was encouraged to put her feelings to music and what happened what a great video. 


By the time I got to the end of the video I thought, "Wow, I don't even think we know what a beautiful woman looks like anymore." We know what a great dye job looks like. We recognize flawless makeup and polished manicures. But what if we were all stripped of that? Would we see beauty? 

I happen to really like makeup and hair (big hair to be exact). I like pretty clothes and painting my nails. I don't think there's anything innately wrong with liking those things. Except sometimes I go without makeup and I hear "Oh, you look tired." Small children have even told me I looked weird! Seriously! 

The other day I had makeup on, and Piper asked why. "I just like wearing makeup sometimes," I told her. She told me I shouldn't wear makeup. However, Ryland (who you can always count on to speak his mind) chimed in and told me I should wear it to church because it looks pretty. 

Later the same day that I read the article I referenced earlier, Piper requested to put on a "princess dress." We don't have any actual dress up clothes; every dress is a princess dress to her. At first I didn't want to, but I'm working on saying yes to my kids whenever reasonable. She chose a dress, I helped her put it on, and watched her twirl around proclaiming herself Princess Piper. She ended up sleeping in that dress because she just loves it so much. 

I remarked to Jackie how happy she was. She clearly felt pretty--like a princess. I tried to think of something that made me feel that way. You know what? I couldn't come up with a single thing. How sad that I've either outgrown or given up on the concept of self-beauty. I'm not saying that I think my face ory body is ugly necessarily but nothing inspires me to glow like my bare-faced, messy-haired little girls. 

I couldn't help but be reminded of 1 Peter 3:3-4 which says, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." 

Therein lies my real problem. I greatly lack a gentle and quiet spirit! My spirit is rather loud and boisterous within me. 

Gotta work on that. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

5 Reasons I Should Stay Off Facebook

1. TMI So, I remember the weirdest things but one brief conversation I had over 10 years ago stands out to me. It was high school and like all high school girls I had friends, enemies, and frienemies. One of my then-frienemies (we've grown up since then!) was friends with one of my enemies. Standing by the lockers one day, frienemy walks up and says in reference to enemy something like, "She shares too much information. Sometimes it's almost like, 'Hey, guys. I just farted.'" Of course, at the time I ate this up and laughed at her expense but over the years it's been a little reminder that more often than not I need to shut up. Just shut up. I've often been tempted (and have too often given in to the temptation) to over share. I think the Internet feels far safer than it really is. I need to remember that. 2. Friends...or Stalkers? Speaking of "friends", I have 321 of them. I know that number is much higher for many of you, but ...
10 comments
Read more

The Story of Us

Do you like love stories? Who doesn't! Well, as Jackie and I prepare to celebrate our 7th anniversary tomorrow I'm ruminating on ours. It had an unexpected beginning and several surprising twists some of which threw me off so badly that I'm only now beginning to see how beautifully the Master Author has written it. I know it has had to have been in His hands because I seriously couldn't make some of this stuff up. Though Jackie and I didn't meet until 2004, but I will begin our story in 1998. That year I was 15 and pregnant. I suppose everyone thinks a baby will change your life to some degree but few people understand just to what degree that is. Because of Keeleigh a lot of things were different in my life. I traded in some of my freedom as a teenager for bottles and diapers. I remember I used to leave school and tell my friends, "Well, I'm off to play house." "Don't you wish you were just playing?" a friend asked. Really? I didn...
3 comments
Read more

24 Days of Thankfulness: Day 12

She is 12 years old going on 30. She is the epitome of the term "free-spirited." She sings opera in the shower and can ride a bike with no hands and her eyes closed. She can beat all the boys at football at PE. She has her own style and isn't afraid to show it off. She dances for His glory. She can stand on her hands. When she laughs everyone laughs with her. Sometimes I look at her and my heart aches for the years past when I didn't always know what a treasure I had. She is growing--I get to see her maturing a little each day, growing not only in stature but also spiritually and mentally. What a treat it is to sit across from her each day and see the wheels turning in her head! She is the prettiest mad scientist I've ever seen. She is artsy and crafty. She is big sister  extraordinaire! She bickers and complains but without a doubt she loves and that love is returned.  She holds them close and asks for hugs and kisses. Sh...
2 comments
Read more