Posts
Tuesday, August 21
Do you know about Groupon? You probably do. It’s a website that offers a deal-of-the-day feature with a
paid, discounted gift certificate for a specific amount of service or product
redeemable at local or national companies. And when you sign up with them, they
will send you daily announcements for your locality.
I got one the other day that made me laugh out loud. In the
subject line was this...
Beauty Injections
Wow! Now, wouldn’t that be nice? We could all get shots and
be beautiful! {giggle}
Isn’t that what the world tells us? Look like this celebrity. Look like this model. Do this, do that to renew
your youth! Heaven forbid I should develop wrinkles or bulges!
That reminds me of a 1976 movie called Logan’s Run. It takes place in the year 2274, as the world has been
decimated by some kind of holocaust and the remnants of civilization now live
in a sealed, domed city, a utopia controlled by a master computer that manages
all aspects of their lives, including reproduction.
On the surface, all seems to be an idyllic society. These survivors live a mostly hedonistic lifestyle. With little work for them to perform, they are free to pursue a life of pleasure and self-gratification.
They have been told that in order to maintain the city,
every resident at the age of thirty must undergo the ceremony known as Carousel
with the promise of being renewed.
Actually, thirty was as old as they got. There was no
renewal. They just got zapped. Vaporized in the unknown.
The world elevates youthfulness and beauty with its pleasures
and self-gratification. It offers renewal of youth to the sagging, wrinkling,
and aging with its rituals of creams, lotions, hair dyes, lasers for all sorts
of things, operations to enlarge this or diminish that, liposuction, nose jobs,
weight loss, you name it! Oh, and, of course, don’t forget...beauty shots of
botox.
Have you ever seen those who have endured too many plastic
surgeries and other body modifications? They skin is so tight that, if they
smiled, their skin would rip? Or those who have had so many botox injections
that they have no facial expressions any more?
Some have gone to these extremes, being addicted to facial
or body “corrections” that they no longer look like themselves. Their desire is
to look like a real-life Barbie doll. And it’s not just women. Some men do it
as well.
There is no sin in wanting to look our best, to be pleasing
to our spouse or to others, by having some cosmetic surgery done. And of
course, sometimes, it is essential to have certain types of operations done. However,
there is a limit.
Where we get into trouble, where we lose our sense of self,
our self-worth and our self-respect, is in comparing ourselves with the physical
attributes of others. We begin to think negatively about our own outward
appearance.
But as Mom always said, “Beauty comes from within.” These
people agree...
Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical. ~ Sophia Loren
Beauty without grace is the hook without the bait. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Beauty pleases the eyes only; sweetness of disposition charms the soul. ~ Voltaire
People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within. ~ Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
One of my favorite beauty quotes is by Audrey Hepburn...
For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.
Scripture tells us that “Our beauty should not come from
outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and
fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading
beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used
to make themselves beautiful.” (1 Peter 3:3-5 NIV)
The best injections
of beauty come from the Lord. He gives us beauty to replace our ashes. He gives
us the beauty of nature to infuse our souls. He gives us beauty from His Word.
His gives us the beauty of Himself, from being in His presence.
Your beauty comes from your soul, your heart. It is what you
are; it is what you do; it is what the Lord makes you.
Whoever you are reading this – man or woman – you are
beautiful! God doesn’t make ugly. Only man knows how to do that! You are a
delight to the Lord, just as you are.
So, how is your beauty-self-worth quotient today?
“Let the beauty of
the Lord our God be upon us.”
(Ps. 90:17 NKJV)
Hooking up with...
So true, "the best injections of beauty come from the Lord." Some of those people, often women, look scarey and it is sad when their faces look frozen and startled.
Wait! I don't remember getting that offer! What's up with that?
Do you think we fall into the beauty trap because we're afraid of getting old--dying--of not being? And that we forget that the most beautiful beauty potion is ahead when our bodies are totally transformed?
And of course, the most beautiful people I know are those who seep it inside out.
I love this - especially the quote from Kubler-Ross. Great thoughts -thanks for sharing. Coming to you via Joy in this Journey.
Blessings!
LOL Sandra, yes, yes, yes, and yes! And you are so right...the most beautiful are the ones that ooze it! Thanks, sweetie, for stopping by! Always love hearing from you! Bless you!
Tanya, isn't that a great quote? Love that one, too. Thanks so much for visiting and leaving a comment. I deeply appreciate it. Blessings to you!
Love this my beautiful friend! Love the truth in God's word and I love the quote you shared from Audrey Hepburn.
Beautiful blessings to you,
Lisa
Great post, Lynn. I love your wisdom ... it reflects your beautiful spirit. Thanks for pointing women to the what makes us valuable ~ our beauty in the eyes of the Creator.
Lisa, I love that quote by Audrey Hepburn also. She had great beauty. Thank you, my beautiful friend, for your kind words. Bless you!
Thank you so much, Dawn, for your generous and kind words. You make my heart happy. Bless you!
It's amazing how we buy into the beauty trap. Such wisdom in your post and God's Word has much to say about true inner beauty. Thanks for the reminder that beauty is only "skin deep". It's the beauty within that pleases the Lord.
Such a tempting trap, isn't it? Sucks us in. Thanks, Deborah, for your comment. Appreciate hearing from you. Bless you!
I needed your beauty injection this morning beautiful Lynn. I may just skip the lip gloss later...
Great quotes but that photo made me say OUCH! I work a lot with older adults - and their faces - winkles and all are beautiful to me.
Thought-provoking post my friend, Vanity was especially important to my adoptive mother. Never saw her without make-up or even in her pajamas. Not until recent years did I know my grandma was the same way. Mom never missed her weekly hair appointment. While on the other hand as her daughter, I was never showed how to use make-up; a friend offered to paint my nails for prom and my wedding.
I do know I have that "beauty within," but I have struggled for along time with feeling pretty on the outside. Looking back, I see now that my adoptive mother never found that "beauty within," and was desperately trying to overcompensate with her looks because she didn't really like herself all that much. Her mixed messages and insecurities did more harm than good in our relationship. But what it has taught me is to look deeper into the reasons why somebody might choose "Beauty Injections." And your post reminds me to remember the way the Lord sees me. Thank you!
I love you my friend.
LOL Carol, your beautiful without it!
LOL Isn't that photo a deusy? And just think: since you work with a lot of wrinkly old people, if we ever met, you'd love me! ;P Thanks so much for stopping by! :D
JoAnne, you are beautiful as you are! To me, to everyone that knows you, and especially to the Lord! Bless you!
"God doesn't make ugly." I love that! Love & prayers, in Jesus, Cynthia
Cynthia, thank you so much for taking time to visit and comment. I deeply appreciate it. Blessings to you!
Firstly, I love Hepburn's words. She is in fact, one of the most beautiful women in her time. This is such an inspiring post. Thanks for sharing!
LiH, thank you so much for taking time to visit. I agree, Hepburn was beautiful inside and out. I deeply appreciate your comment. Blessings to you!