Balanced & Beautiful
Dressing for the Glory of God
Part 1
| 2 | 3 | 4
| 5 | 6 | 7
| 8 | 9 | 10
| 11 | 12 | 13
SIMPLE GIFTS
by Laurel Damsteegt, Part 6
One word sums up Jesus’s
picture of the lovely Christian: simplicity. As Jesus spoke on
the Mount, He reached over and plucked a simple flower. He
looked deep into its throat and saw varying hues and
intensities, an exact form, perfect lines. And He told the
people that Solomon in all his extravagant, impressive robes
could not begin to express the loveliness of that simple
wildflower.
Then Jesus gave one of His “enabling” promises. “Shall He
not much more clothe you?”1 God is much more interested in you
and me than in the flowers of the field. He takes care of their
design and needs. God promises to provide for our clothing, not
extravagantly, but with simplicity and adequacy.
Sometimes God provides through unexpected gifts of things we
could never afford for ourselves; sometimes He’ll lead us to a
marvelous sale; sometimes He gives the ability to sew a new
garment or renovate a hand-me-down; and sometimes He even helps
our clothes last almost as long as the Israelites’ did!2 God
does provide, and every gift needs to be acknowledged as coming
directly from Him, the author of all good things!
Thinking of using cosmetics? The principle of simplicity is
important here, too. First, we need to remember that the Creator
made us with our own special hues and coloring. Healthful
exercise in fresh air and sunshine brings color to our cheeks
and luster to our hair. Those who make a practice of covering
their skin with makeup actually block the development of natural
color. The skin becomes sallow and white, the lips fade, and the
eyes lose definition. We actually become more pale than if we
had left off the coverings and allowed our Maker to paint us
naturally. Still not convinced? Remember that men do not
normally use cosmetics—and their color is just fine!
The girl who does not wear cosmetics never has to worry about
harsh lighting, evening lighting, or fluorescent lighting. The
weather will never mar her foundation or streak her blusher. She
won’t leave lipstick on her glass or foundation on her
collars. And, should a few tears flow, she won’t have to run
to the rest room to clean up mascara mess on her cheeks. She is
always herself. And who minds a few cheerful crinkles of
happiness around the eyes or pleasant wrinkles around the mouth?
It certainly is more healthy for the skin pores not to be
consistently smothered.3
Allowing our natural beauty to shine through does not mean we
must be dowdy. Being natural—ourselves—allows us to bubble
over with joy and inner peace. Simple clothing and hairstyles,
along with a God-painted face, have a loveliness that no
artificialness in the world can ever equal. True, a woman
clothed in simplicity may not catch the eye of every passing
man. But if that bothers us, perhaps we need to ask ourselves
why we crave such attention. Not having a high profile can be
safer—both literally and spiritually.
As the old Shaker song reminds us:
‘Tis the gift to be simple,
‘Tis the gift to be free,
‘Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
‘Twill be in the valley of love and delight.4
Part 1
| 2 | 3 | 4
| 5 | 6 | 7
| 8 | 9 | 10
| 11 | 12 | 13
1. Matthew 6:30.
2. Deuteronomy 29:5.
3. “Many are ignorantly injuring their health and endangering
their life by using cosmetics. They are robbing the cheeks of
the glow of health, and then to supply the deficiency use
cosmetics. When they become heated . . . the poison is absorbed
by the pores of the skin, and is thrown into the blood” (Ellen
White, The Review and Herald, October 17, 1871).
4. “Simple Gifts,” by Joseph Brackett, Jr., 1848.
|
