Today while sitting in the car when my husband was renting a movie from the Red Box, I read Melanie Chitwood's blog. The entry that caught my attention was titled "Do You Think I'm Beautiful?" It talks about how as we grow older we tend to struggle with insecurity, low self-esteem or low self-worth. I can say I am guilty of that at times. In the entry Melanie talks about little girls and how they dress up when they are younger and how beautiful it makes them feel. She asks the question "Do you remember moments like that?" That question is what made me want to write this. I instantly thought of my grandmother, Nanny. I remembered dressing up in Nanny's clothes, putting on her makeup and jewelry. I always admired my Nanny and wanted to be just like her. She was so stylish and beautiful. She always wore such beautiful colorful clothes, stylish heels and beautiful perfume. My grandfather, Poppy, had to add a room on to their home for Nanny to use as a closet. She would wake up early every morning, make coffee, and get ready for work. She would even squeeze in a few phone calls to family in the morning. When I would wake up she would already be ready and I could smell all of the beautiful things that she used, hair products, makeup, powders, and perfume. I can smell it now just thinking about it. Nanny always seemed so confident and I never heard her complain or stress about her looks. When Nanny would leave for work I would sneak a spray of her perfume, put on some earrings and just look at myself in the mirror. I would sit tall and proud in her chair at her vanity. That area of the bathroom was like a candy store to me. Poppy built a vanity that ran along the back wall of the bathroom. It had wood legs and a tile top. It had shelves on each side and jewelry storage areas. She kept all of her face creams, makeup and perfumes in the side storage areas. It had lots of big lights that ran across the top. I remember standing on top of the vanity and above the lights she had really nice jewelry stored. The stuff she did not wear everyday. She had drawers below that had rollers and irons for styling hair. Underneath she always had this red travel makeup box for when she went to the lake house on the weekends. Her slippers were always tucked under that vanity waiting for her to slip off her heels after work and slip them on. In the wall next to the vanity was a cabinet that contained all of her hair products, lotions and various beauty products. Growing up the color of the bathroom changed colors many times. Nanny and Poppy would spend weekends at their lake house. A lot of the time I would join them. When I was a young girl and I didn't go with them I would stay home and play dress up, school teacher, dolls. I would dress up in Nanny's clothes and makeup. I felt like I looked just like her. I felt so beautiful. I miss that house and I miss her.
Below I copied Melanie Chitwood's entry that I read today as well as a link to her blog. Her blog has really good information and inspiration for married couples.
http://www.melaniechitwood.com/search?updated-max=2011-01-23T09%3A27%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=3
Do You Think I'm Beautiful?
Hi friends! Thank you for stopping by and for joining me after reading my Encouragement for Today devotion running today with Proverbs 31 Ministries free online devotions.
I found some photos of adorable little girls, as in my devotion I recall a time when I felt beautiful as a little girl. Do you remember a moment like that? Maybe dressing up in your princess outfit or mom's high heels. Maybe sneaking in to mom's make up and paining your lips imperfectly with lipstick? Maybe, like me, your first pair of grown-up boots that made you prance.
Maybe you want to find a picture of yourself as a little girl and display it somewhere you see it frequently. Remember that pretty, little girl, and be reminded today that you are now a beautiful lady.
It seems to me as we grow older we women struggle with insecurity, low self-esteem or low self-worth more than men. Why do we women tend to think we're not pretty enough, smart enough, doing enough...just not enough? Why do we compare ourselves to other women and think they're doing a better job than we are at everything?
I think there's one big reason: the stinky, enemy of our souls is looking to rob of us our joy and our purpose. God's Word tells us in John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
I'm including some other great verses here to post somewhere in your house, maybe several places, and to memorize one, so when the thief tries to steal your joy and life, you use God's truth as your weapon.
Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (NLT)
Psalm 45:11, “The king is enthralled by your beauty…”(NIV)
Zephaniah 3:17, “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” (NIV)
Psalm 149:4, “For the LORD delights in his people…” (NLT)
Psalm 139, 13, 14, “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works and my soul knows it very well.
Isaiah 49:16, “See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.” (NLT)
Ephesians 1:4, “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.” (NLT)
1 John 3:1, “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are…” (NAS)
Deuteronomy 7:7, “The LORD did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations!Rather, it was simply that the LORD loves you…”(NLT)
Today I challenge you to believe what the Lover of your Soul says about you. Choose to believe what Jesus alone says about you.
And maybe you want to put on your favorite boots or heels, turn up the music, and dance!
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