When I slide my eyelids open every morning, I sit up and shake my glossy, silky hair against the flawless skin on my face. The corners of pink, healthy lips turn upward , as if pointing to the light rose blush on my ivory cheeks. Above that, my brilliant blue eyes sparkle with life and intelligence. I don't need to glance in the mirror on my way out into the day...I know I look A. maze. Ing.
Well, I wish.
Rewrite: This groggy girl spends the first fifteen minutes of her day with her eyes half open, telling herself to get moving, lazy! Glancing in the mirror before I head to the shower usually helps wake me up. I'll spare you a detailed description, but lets just say I look like the usual bed head.
I know we all have these thoughts sometimes, where we look in the mirror and wish that “if only this freckle was gone, my nose was smaller and my forehead was tiny and dainty, I would look really pretty, etc. And lets not even mention the hair.” You know what I'm talking about. We all naturally want to look good, at least, even if we can't pull off being stunning every time we look at ourselves. At least, I would prefer looking nice. Some people don't mind being messy. But we won't get into that.
Before I go on, I have a slight confession to make to you: I wish I was prettier every day of my life. Every day, I sigh about at least one little thing I wish were different, and the next day , I'm discontent about something else. I don't obsess over it, though. I just think about it more than I should. Like everybody else, the desire to look outwardly good is always there, too often. You could probably think of cases where people did not care about there appearance enough...but I'm not talking about those people.
And then one day a couple of weeks ago, I found this wonderful cleanser. Well, its more like a concept. Or an idea... well, it can't be put into one dinky word, but it was really neat. And it cost me no money at all! It did cost me some pride, though. But I needed to have my pride brought down a notch. I always need that.
You must be at least slightly curious by now as to what I found. It was in the Martha Stewart's Living magazine. Before I go any further, I want to make one thing clear...I am not a fan of Martha Stewart. I actually don't really like her, and I know she's got...problems. But her magazines have some fun ideas. Now that you all know my standing on that, we can continue with this lengthy post:
Living was doing a few pages on spring makeup and new cleansers, etc. But that was not what caught my attention. It was on five ladies that she featured, who she thought were truly beautiful...and they were. And not because they were spread over with gobs of make up, but because they knew how to be lovely with what they had. One of them, a young lady 24 years old, could make an impression on people because she stood straight and tall, talked with grace, and had a quiet calmness about her without being little miss high and mighty. Another woman was beautiful because she loved life. She was not a Christian, but I think there are many examples of non-christian people who have virtues that Christians lack. Not that they are going to Heaven because of it...but I think we need to learn from some people who do not know Christ, and appreciate that they have the virtue of friendliness or joy, etc, as we witness to them and tell them how much they need Him.
I did not mean to get preachy. I bunny trailed, folks. Sorry.
By this time you've guessed that I'm not going to give you a link to some fantabulous website where they sell wonderful skin products dirt cheap. Sorry if I deceived you. But I wanted to let people know, in my lengthy, long winded way, that if you want to be beautiful (which most every female does) and if you want people to enjoy your character as well as your beauty, then let you character be your beauty.
Learn how to enjoy life, and you won't be able to help it if it spills over into the way you smile and walk and talk because life is good.
Learn to be thoughtful, and you will know that a loud voice and harsh laugh will turn people off.
Learn to laugh at yourself, and you will never cease from being amused (I stole that one from someone else).
Listen to what other people have to say with true sincerity, and they will be your instant friend.
I'm learning this slowly but surely, and it has been a slow and curious, fascinating process.
Be graceful and kind, and it will show in the way you carry yourself. The instant you walk into a room, although people might not think “whoa, she's amazing!,” they will know that you are not afraid of people.
I want to be remembered for something other than the fact that I was the girl that accidentally bumped the toddler on the floor, sending it into tears and you into the bathroom to hide. Not Because I spilled water as I was trying to gracefully pour it, nearly tripped because were staring at interesting people, talked louder and more boisterously than necessary, or talked with food in my mouth at church. (I'm guilty of these and much more, I confess)
I want to learn to make a bigger impression because I talked quietly to a discouraged friend, cleaned up willingly after a child who threw up, gave a hug just because I like someone, and listened well with a true interest in my heart to others hardships and happiness's. They have a life just like me, and I want to tell others about me...therefore I should listen to them. This is so important. I want to share this because it's so much worth sharing, whether you like it or not.
Even better, learn to love and fear God, and you will radiate with peace and joy and a meditative spirit that will impress people more than you know.
In Christ,
Jillian
