Friday, October 19, 2012
Caffeinated Randomness - Inside & Out
I saw one of them again. She looked perfect. She had the nice shoes. She had a great jacket. She had perfect hair and make up. She looked good. She looked perfect. Who am I talking about? A woman without children.
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| Ok I don't know if she has a child or not, but I needed a picture. |
You moms know what I am talking about. Our shoes are comfortable. Our shirts have stains. We own jeans and maybe a few dress pants for church or special occasions. The last time we wore a formal dress was either a bridesmaid dress or our husband's Christmas social. We rarely get hair cuts. We wear make up but to hide the dark circles under our eyes. We don't have time to look perfect. We want wash and wear. It has to be comfortable. It has to practicle. I am sorry Stacy and Clinton, we don't want to wear high heels to the grocery store and we don't have time to put on nylons to drop the kids off in the mornings (I'm lucky if I have all my make up on).
However, I understand what poor Stacy and Clinton on What Not To Wear are trying to do. In fact, God spells it out for us.
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. (1 Peter 3:3 NIV)
I know many people focus on this verse as telling us that we shouldn't have any adornment or any elaborate hairstyles. That we don't need to focus on our outsides. But I learned something from Tony Evans about this verse. It doesn't say don't do it. It doesn't say let yourself go so that you can glorify God. It doesn't say don't keep yourself up, it just says don't make it your idol. We should focus on our inner beauty. Once we do that it will reflect out. However, we don't need to look this while we work on it:
We should take care of ourselves. We should look on the outside how we feel on the inside. When we let our outside go, it is usually a reflection of what our inside looks like or how we are feeling. When we take care of ourselves, we feel better about ourselves and can work on our insides. It is hard to focus on what God calls us to do, when we hate ourselves or don't care about ourselves. God wants so much more for us than we give ourselves or even allow ourselves to hope. We don't need to look like a fashion model (those days are sadly gone), but we should look good. We should allow ourselves times for manicures and/or pedicures. We should allow ourselves times for good haircuts and colourings. We don't need to let ourselves go - Mom or not.
These past few weeks I have been reflecting on my own wardrobe. I admit I have been slowly slipping into track pants, t-shirts and sweatshirts. For those that know me personally, you know if I usually have jeans and a nice top or sweater on. I don't leave the house without my hair down. But admittedly I am tired. I am frustrated in having many of tops ruined by stains from mucky fingers. I frustrated by my weight and frustrated by my the greying hair. It would be so easy to give up. It would be easy to let myself go. It would be easy to give up. It would be easy to buy into the line that I shouldn't focus on my outside because it would be dishonouring God. But God asks me to look after myself.
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body," (1 Corinithians 6:19-20 NIV)
God paid a price for us. Not just for our insides, but also for our outsides. We are to care for both equally. We should focus on our spiritual life. We should focus on God's leading in our lives. Just the same, we should look after our bodies. Caring for the temple He gave each of us so that we may honour Him. You wouldn't allow anyone to ransake your Church. You wouldn't allow it to become run down. So why do we allow ourselves to become run down?
Are you taking care of your temple? Are you caring as much for your outside as your inside? Come link up with the other java junkies this week.
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- Michelle
- Alberta, Canada
- I'm a 39 year old (oh yeah I'm telling you my age) Stay at Home mom. A former Bad Girl now reformed sinner, I'm married to my Y2K guy and raising 3 great children from God. Proudly Canadian, however, missing the West Coast, I currently live in the prairies watching the farmers fields produce as I learn how God produces the fruits in me.
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4 comments:
I feel that if we focus too much on how we look on the outside (it can go to extremes either way), we are missing the big picture of taking care where it really counted, our inner beauty.
Every time I read this verse, I felt it was more of a reminder how we can depend too much on how we look on the outside, to depend on saving ourselves, than focusing on the beauty and power of allowing Christ to shine from within.
But it doesn't mean to let ourselves go either...
As you shared, "We should take care of ourselves. We should look on the outside how we feel on the inside. When we let our outside go, it is usually a reflection of what our inside looks like or how we are feeling. When we take care of ourselves, we feel better about ourselves and can work on our insides.
That's really true....can relate there are some days...just having my hair up in a pony tail, find a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt and I'm good, but have an opportunity to wear a pair of heels or nice boots, wear some makeup, and a nice outfit and there is a different look and feeling and an extra spring (depending on how high the heels, lol) in one's step.
There are still times and circumstances we need to look polished, but if we actually prefer to go without makeup,etc. so be it...but it should be because we want to, not because of peer pressure, conformity, etc.
When I read this verse, what comes to mind, is we can be modest but fashionable and often the most fashionable styles and dress aren't neither the extremes that one's image may pull up.
As you said and Tony Evans said,," We don't need to look like a fashion model (those days are sadly gone), but we should look good. We should allow ourselves times for manicures and/or pedicures. We should allow ourselves times for good haircuts and colourings. We don't need to let ourselves go - Mom or not.
Love the way that the women of the 30's, 40's and 50's dressed in way that was polished, (though in these days and times, lol, not as practical in many circumstances, rofl), and looked good but modest.
And look even in the "rockabilly" movement which capture the past and tied with the modern...so neat.
Though with young kids, uhm...hair in a pony tail, nice baseball cap, pair of jeans, and t-shirt and sneakers or flats...we're good and out the door.LOL
I am new here and found you Katharine's blog! Love the button! Would love to link in - Thanks!
I am so here right now!! I realized how much I had let things go when I started thinking about packing for Allume. Thanks for the great reminders.
Striking a happy balance between looking good & not spending too much time or money doing it is never easy! Thanks for the great post & for hosting! I'm your newest follower -- I hope you'll consider following me back at Saved by Grace!
God bless,
Laurie
http://savedbygracebiblestudy.blogspot.com/
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