Freshening Up My Make-Up

Yesterday as I was under the hair dryer in the beauty salon, I saw the woman next to me freshening her make-up.  After just having had her hair washed and blown dry, she needed to re-apply the make-up that had gone AWOL in the process of getting her hair done.  In my chair I sat thinking, 'I don't understand why she wears make-up.  She's already beautiful.  Or is the make-up what makes her beautiful?'  In the end I wasn't sure.

Today I was at a friend's home.  She has been dealing with some family issues and I have the privilege of visiting with her once a month or so to give godly counsel on the issues that she faces each day.  I say it is a privilege because I am only worthy to enter into such an intimate place in her life by the grace of God.

Before leaving her home, I prayed with her as is my usual custom before departing.  She told me that she felt better since we got to talk and that she always feels more at peace after talking to me.  Then she told me that I have a beauty about me without even wearing make-up.  She told me that my beauty is my peace and that it shows.  "We should sell it as a cream," she joked.  "Twenty-five dollars for a jar sound good?"

As soon as I got back to my house I turned to 1 Peter 3:3,4 which reads,

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and fine clothes.  Instead, it should be that of a gentle and quiet spirit, which of great worth in God's sight.

It is humbling when people give such compliments.  I think about how just moments earlier I lashed out at my son prior to putting him on the school bus.  (By God's grace I apologized to him afterwards).  So for my friend to tell me that she sees me wearing a disposition of peace makes me want to be better for Christ...to freshen up my make-up.