Recently, while at a conference, I heard this story -
A woman, who I will call Sue, had entered a local beauty pagaent in South Carolina and arrived at the home of one of the contestants, who shall be known as Dutchess, to prep for an pre-pagaent event.. The home was a grand affair, much like a real southern mansion. In the entry way was this HUGE piano, and I do mean HUGE!! On the piano were lots and lots of pictures of Dutchess in various dresses and hairstyles, etc. It was obvious that she had been in many pagaents. On the wall, from floor to ceiling was an artist's portrait of her in full regalia. There was no guessing about what/who was important in this house!
As Sue was fixing herself up with the other contestants in the room that had been designated "The Prep Room," she grabbed her hairspray to set her style, when all of a sudden Dutchess exclaimed,
(in a very heavy southern accent) "Don't you dare spray that hairspray in here. It will dull my sequins!"
One of the keynote speakers at this same conference was a woman named Sarah Dubbeldam, who is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of a magazine called "Darling."
Below is the quote found on the back of this magazine:
"Darling is the art of being a woman.
Darling magazine holds the modern mold of woman up to the fire to evoke a discussion on feminimity and re-shape an authentic design. Darling is a catalyst for positive change; leading women to discover beauty apart from vanity, influence apart from manipulation, sytle apart from materialism, sweetness apart from passivity, and womanhood without degradation.
Darling leads women to practice the arts of virtue, wit, modesty, and wisdom - all the while creating beauty and embodying love. Darling says women are not only interesting, but original, not only good enough, but exceptional - not just here, but here for a purpose."
You will find this message on the pages of Darling magazine:
NONE OF THE WOMEN IN THIS MAGAZINE HAVE BEEN RETOUCHED
and they have issued this challenge to all other women's magazines.
Wow!
What would change in our world if that happened?
What would change in our world if we, as women, refused to let other women "dull our sequins?"
What would change in our world if we refused to "dull the sequins" of other women?
We all start out on the same level ground.
We all want the same things: love and acceptance.
And yet, sometimes, ok, let's be honest, most times, we are the very ones that keep the cycle of comparison and rejection going.
Some women love to "dress up."
Other women love to "dress down."
Some women love to wear make-up..
Other women can't be bothered.
Some women embrace their femininity and love lace and frills.
Other women wear blue jeans every day and lace makes them itch.
Some women love to cook and create in the kitchen.
Other women, like me, only have a kitchen because it came with the house!
Some women are natural mothers and love babies.
Other women find it a challenge to be in a room of children for more than 5 minutes.
Some women love the challenge of the work place and being in the boardroom.
Other women love the challenge of creating a home for their husband and children.
What I'm saying in all of this is simply - we are all so different and yet incredibly so similar.
Who we are on the outside is most often a reflection of who we are on the inside.
And on the inside, we all want to be loved and accepted for just who we are!!
We are all "one of a kind" creations.
There is no template for you.
God made each of us individuals and even though we may resemble our mother or our father or look a little like one of our siblings, there is NO ONE else who is distinctly or uniquely you!
This uniqueness was God's design.
There are no accidents in God's creations.
He deliberately and creatively designed each one of us.
I believe He did that for a reason.
He could have cloned His first design.
It would have made His job so much easier and simpler, don't you think?
What would happen if, instead of judging the difference in our outward appearances, we learned to embrace the uniqueness of one another?
What if we embraced the uniqueness and creativity of our Heavenly Father and accepted each other as His gifts to us?
What if we stopped judging and instead extended love and acceptance?
Can we start a campaign?
Can we decide to live "un-retouched?"
Can we be and accept who we truly are
and then
give that same acceptance to our sisters?
Can you be okay with my suit and tie?
Can I be okay with your tattoos and piercings?
Can we recognize individual styles and not be threatened by a style different from our own?
Some of us love exercise and sports.
Others hate to sweat!
Some of us love to knit.
Others are all thumbs!
What you have, I need
and
what I have, you need!
Let's make a real concerted effort to not judge another woman simply because she's different.
Let's make a real concerted effort to not let another "dull our sequins."
And let's not be the tool that is used to "dull another's sequins."
Let's all say as Paul said:
"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect."
! Corinthians 15:10a
Let's receive His grace and in turn, extend it lavishly and without restraint, as God does!
Please tell me what you think!
I'd love to hear from you!
Please tell me what you think!
I'd love to hear from you!
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