The New Pretty

I was on Instagram the other day just looking around.  I found myself watching a make up video.  It was a younger girl.  She was funny as she applied what seemed to be endless amounts of make up.  I found that I was startled at the length of the false lashes she chose.  In the end, she was going for a natural look...  A NATURAL look.  Her skin wasn't even the original color.  She has plastered on a few layers of color that didn't resemble her actual skin tone and then she contoured, blushed and highlighted her face till it looked more like... what she started with.😐

I'm being a little bit of a hypocrite because if you know me, you know I love make up.  I love bright and bold colors to enhance my face.  But I am not about my face.  The other day I went to work, on a regular day (not a Friday), without make up.  I didn't even bother putting it on.  I was told I looked a little tired.  I could deal with a little tired.  On any given day, I wear concealer, mascara, blush, highlighter and lipstick.   If it's a day that I can afford to do extra, I put on eye shadow.  If it's a bold look type of day, I put on eyeliner.  I have make up.  I don't like the feel of it.  I don't really like hiding or lying.  I want to tell people that I meet, "What you see is what you get."

Proverbs 31:30 says, "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."

I Peter 3:3-4 states, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.  Rather, 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." 

I laugh.  I laugh a lot at the part that says 'gentle' and 'quiet'.  I suppose God will change me as He sees fit and when He sees fit. 

I think about my mother.   Children see moms all of the time.  They see the inside mom and the outside mom.  I can honestly tell you that my mom was beautiful all of the time.  On the day she was being extra, she was spectacular!  Sick and ailing, she would put on her lipstick and heels and be ready for the world!  There are moments of insecurity that I let my children see.  However, to them, I am always their beautiful mom.  They think I'm beautiful.  The same way that my mom was beautiful to me.  The mom that wakes up first thing is the the same beautiful mom they see when I'm wearing my red lipstick.

A former grad came to see me on one of the days that I didn't put on any make up at all.  I didn't care.  I snapped the picture anyway.  I am looking at the picture now.  How beautiful!  It's a picture of two people who are so happy to see each other.  I think you can see the pride and love in my face.  I don't even notice that I'm not wearing make up.  Happy needs no make up. 

I will always love make up.  I believe that it is part of the legacy that I will leave behind.  "Elle?  Yes, even at 100 years old she wore the heck out of that purple hair and red lipstick!"  But maybe the new pretty shouldn't be to put on layer after layer of stuff.  And truth be known, those fake lashes scare me a little bit.  They are getting bigger every day.  The new pretty should be who you are and the love of Jesus.  I'll try it and let you know.  Praise the LORD!!!