When my cousin Lisa was married the women in the wedding party were invited for a spa day and I had my first pedicure. I must admit that after my initial awkwardness it felt wonderful and my feet looked fabulous.That was more than ten years ago.
Since then I do it myself at home with a pumice stone and nail polish. The whole ordeal is usually a giant fiasco with my bad eyesight and perception problems. So I sigh and wipe up the misplaced and spilled polish and slip into my flip flops and go on my way.
Most of the time I don't give my toes a second thought (except for scrubbing with a pumice stone everyday). I do admire the fancy pedicures on others toes as they peek out from adorable sandals and contemplate going to have mine professionally done. But I never do.
I have had other women say "You need a pedicure." However,when I look down I see clean and well groomed feet although they are a little bit rugged as I love to be bear foot. SO what's the big deal? Why do I "need" to get a pedicure?
My hands are the same; I keep them clean and well groomed. I moisturize and
every once in awhile I will actually get a professional manicure. (Don't you just love the fun names they come up with for all the various hues of color?)
But mostly these are just plain unadorned working hands. They cook and clean, wash and fold clothes. They peck away at the keyboard e-mailing and blogging. And more importantly they provide a gentle touch. It may not be the prettiest hand or be adorned with the trendiest nail polish but I hope that the love and mercy of Christ are experienced through it's touch.
The world would tell us that unless we have a perfect pedicure and manicure that we just don't measure up as a woman. By the world's standards then I am a failure.
BUT (remember that negates everything said before it) God's Word says:
What matters is not your outer appearance-the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes-but your inner disposition. Cultivate inner beauty; the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in.
1 Peter 3-4 The Message
AND
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger bringing good news, breaking the news that all is well, proclaiming good times and announcing salvation, telling Zion, "Your God reigns!" Isiah 52:7 The Message
Since I am God's girl first and foremost I am going to continue to listen to HIS beauty advice, not my friends or a magazine but the Truth from God's Word.
This summer:
I will spend more time in HIS Presence than in a salon.
I will let HIM speak to me and give me a divine pedicure of sorts.I will sport the color "For HIS Glory" on my feet as HE sends me out to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, to feed the hungry and clothe the poor.
I will be satisfied that my God thinks my feet are beautiful and that HE delights in the gentleness of my non-manicured fingers as I lift them up in praise to HIS Greatness, singing "Our God Reigns".
How about you? What color will you be wearing this summer?
With all that said I am slipping my toes into my flip flops and heading out for a walk with my Father.
Keep on living beauty-full for HIS glory!!
ruthann
1 comment:
Thanks for the reminder, Ruthann! I used to have gorgeous nails and hands. Not by manicure, but simply by my youth. Now I look down and see the wonderful gifts only God could've given me! No, they aren't showing signs of age, but the signs of a full and blessed life. Rarely polished because the dishpan & washing machine just don't care -a gift from God to be able to be home with my family. They usually have a bit of something left over from weeding my gardens -He grants me desire for beauty in nature. Often I can find a spot of paint or two from refinishing furniture -a persuit that only God could've spurred. My cuticles are mostly dry from the amount of washing/wiping/band-aiding my kiddos -little gifts from Heaven. And lastly, my long nail beds no longer showcase the strong and lengthy nails I had just two years ago. They now hold these chopped back and barely ever filed blunt unpolished stumps supported by callouses from guitar playing...the gift from God that I can give back to Him! So, like you, Ruthann, I look down and now see hands full of amazing blessings that only God could've provided! Thank you for the beauty-full perspective!!
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