As believers, we understand that beauty comes from within:
”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 unfailing beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 1 Peter 3:3-4
We get that, right? But, something weird happens when it’s time for a high school reunion. It seems that any progress we’ve made in understanding inner beauty flies out the window as we madly scramble to try and recapture some of our youthful beauty instead. At least that’s what happened to me when my 45th High School reunion approached.
I am long past the age of conceit. Realism smacks me in the face every time I look in the mirror. But, as the reunion crept closer, I forgot all about the changes I had made on the inside and focused instead on my outside appearance. I just didn’t want to go to the reunion looking like an overweight, old grandma (which, to be fair, is what I am). So, I embarked on a frenzied beautification project.
First, I wanted to lose weight (CAN you lose 50 pounds in a few weeks?). But, instead of losing, I was put on some new medications that caused weight gain. So, that was helpful.
Next, I bought a tooth-whitening toothpaste to brighten my smile. But, I broke a molar eating a sandwich. Yes, that’s right, a sandwich.
I found eye drops that would reduce any red in my eyes and make them look brighter. Instead, my eye doctor found an issue with my eyes and immediately prescribed contacts that made my eyes fatigued and redder than ever.
So, I went and got a pedicure to make my feet look pretty in the sandals I planned to wear. The lady who did it was over-zealous and cut into my skin which caused my big toe to turn red and swell up. Really pretty.
I moved on to try and find something to wear that would make me look thin and younger. Because of circumstances, I ended up shopping with a very busy two-year-old who proceeded to lock himself in an empty dressing room. Instead of finding a cute outfit, I ended up on my stomach in my bra trying to coax a toddler through a small space under a door.
I thought I had found the perfect small purse to bring. Then, I got it home and found out it wouldn’t even hold my reading glasses, so I had to dig an old purse out of the back of the closet instead.
This whole looking young and pretty thing was not working out at all and I was really feeling stressed by the night of the reunion.
As I was riding to the event, I looked down and there was a spider making a web on my sleeve. Seriously, did I look so old and dusty that the spider was like, “Hey, here’s an old place to put a cobweb?” It was the final insult.
I wanted to go back home and hide in bed. I was quite sure that all these disasters were God’s way of saying, “Don’t go to this reunion!”
But, as usual when I try and translate for God, I was wrong. Because, I did go to the reunion and I had the best time. I talked to so many dear people and collected so many wonderful hugs. And it didn’t matter a fig what I looked like on the outside.
God wasn’t telling me to skip the reunion. Instead, he was reminding me to stop focusing on my outside appearance and to start paying attention to my spirit and my heart instead.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16
This verse makes me laugh now. I may be “wasting away” but, with God by my side, I am also being renewed day by day. And, that’s a pretty beautiful thing.
I look forward to the next reunion and hopefully I’ll remember what I learned this time: that beauty truly is found on the inside.
Read more of Ann’s contributions to AllMomDoes here.
