The Importance of Balance

There's a ditch on either side of the road. You can be too rigid, you can be too lax- or you can be balanced. Some women are totally self-absorbed- all decked out, painted up and frilly. I know you've seen them at the mall, they walk around giggling loudly, glancing side-wise to see who is looking at them. Other women, in the name of Christian modesty go bare-faced with dull-flat hair and shapeless denim jumpers- comfortable yes, but about as attractive as wearing a potato sack. After being one of the latter kind of ladies, I can truly say that looking frumpy is just as wrong as over-doing it. God is in NO way glorified by ugly. I went this route because I feared being "prideful". For years I thought putting anything on my face or styling my hair was inappropriate for a Christian woman. "It's like telling God that what He made isn't good enough. It's vain and ungrateful to change your appearance" I was told. I bought into that whole song & dance for many years. Now I've come to see that God is glorified when we look and feel our best. I'm not talking distasteful gaudiness & vanity here. But if the barn needs painting girls, paint it! No need to be washed out and anemic looking. If your outfit is plain- assessorize- just don't overdo! Saying it's an insult to God to look nice is ridiculous! Sin & a harsh environment has degraded us a great deal. The devil-man hates our beauty, because he was once a beautiful angel. He does not like it when we feel like beautiful daughters of Eve & walk with confidence. We are born with certain genetic flaws. The perfect skin, body, hair just doesn't occur- it takes a little maintainence. Even the magazine models are touched up. Is it a sin to try and maximize what few assets we do have? Someone once said "A good way to judge how to dress is this: your clothes should fit well enough that people know you're a woman, but loose enough that people know you're a lady." I'll tell you something, one of the most beautiful things you will ever see is a smiling woman, but the plainer-than-jane holier-than-thou types are rarely ever smiling. Why? Because they feel ugly & unloved. Been there- done that- no thanks! As for me, my balance may be different than some. I keep working out, I will cover my gray hairs someday, I wear whatever make-up I need to maintain a good, healthy appearance and (gasp) I paint my toenails. (It makes me feel nice) I don't ever want MY husband feasting his eyes on other/younger women or internet pictures because I'm so incredibly boring to look at! Don't set your man up for temptation, ladies! We don't want to be vain as peacocks either. There's a ditch called 'Prissy' and a rut called 'Frumpy'. Sister, avoid these extremes, walk the balance and for Heaven's sake....... SMILE!