To be a woman in this culture is more difficult than it should be. Our culture places so much emphasis on beauty, sometimes we can't help but be swept in the waterfall and taken in the stream of our culture's expectations.
Over this past month, I have been swimming in this stream. Buying a couple new pairs of pants at Rue 21, a couple shirts from Old Navy, and a new pair of polka-dotted flat shoes made me feel a little better. Next came a new haircut, getting it layered shorter than I ever have. This was not quite enough so I decided to change the color of my hair. I bought a $4.00 box of do-it-yourself hair color at Walgreens and am so thankful my hair did not turn green! Now I am a shade blonder, have more layers in my hair, and have a few new outfits to wear. Yet I was still unsatisfied-I still did not feel beautiful even though my husband tells me this each day-he is so sweet!
During my quiet time before school while eating strawberry oatmeal, God led me to 1 Peter 3:3-4, which I clung to during my middle and high school years yet somehow it must have gotten buried deep in my heart. I am thankful God spoke these words to me through Peter:
Do not let your adornment be merely outward-arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel, rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God's eyes.
