Extreme Makeover

"Joy is the best makeup" - Anne Lamotte

I get an e-newsletter from a website each day that has a daily quote, and this was one of the quotes this week.

As a middle aged woman who is frantically trying to hold back the aging process the best that she can, I found this quote from Anne Lamotte so refreshing.

If you looked in my bathroom drawer right now, you would find a wicker basket filled with items such as "Age Defying Daily Renewal Cleanser", "Dead Sea Anti-Stress Face Tonic", "Youthtopia Skin Firming Cream", "Radiance Boost Eye Cream", "Intensive Restoration Treatment", and that's not even to the cosmetics! Those are just skincare products.

If you look further in the drawer for cosmetics, you will find all shades of eye shadow, lipstick, blush, foundation, concealers, eye liners, mascaras, and so forth.

It's actually quite funny when I look at my collection and realize that while these products might make me look somewhat better (well, alot better actually) and make me feel "spiffier".....that they really aren't changing the aging process. My birthday still rolls around every year.

I've decided that Anne is onto something. Have you noticed the faces of people who are full of joy? Their joy is contagious. People smile at me....I smile back. A joyful person has a countenance about them that is radiant. Try hanging out with a joyful person.....I don't care if you are normally Oscar the Grouch, you are going to start feeling some joy. You won't be able to stop yourself.

One thing that I have learned in life is that joy is not happiness necessarily. Some of my most joyful times have been in times of sadness, turmoil, chaos, and the like. How is that possible? Because joy is more than simply an emotion. Joy goes deeper for me. Joy comes from a deeper place than myself.

Joy is found through God. And when I am going through troubled times, and I feel the Heavenly Father picking me up, dusting me off, and helping me back on my way....I have joy. I have cried tears of anguish, felt God's arms wrap around me, and have had joy in the middle of tears. It's hard to explain if you've never experienced it. But it is real, my friends.

Look at the people around you....I bet you will be able to tell who has joy and who does not. There is a peace that comes with joy. A peace that surpasses all understanding.

I want that makeover. I want joy to be part of my daily countenance. I want to be so closely anchored to the Lord that no matter what emotions and/or circumstances I might be going through, joy is something that never leaves.

So while I'm not advocating leaving off the makeup...heaven knows that I will have mine on tomorrow, I am saying that I want my face to reflect the joy that is in my heart. I believe that I will not only look younger, but will feel younger, will have a "spring in my step" and a "sparkle in my eye". I hope that when people see my mouth, they don't necessarily notice the shade of my lipstick (not that I don't love lipstick...'cause in all honesty, I do) but I hope my mouth reflects words of encouragement and kindness, a smile across my lips, and joyful laughter that comes forth easily.

I want a joy makeover.

No Maintenance Required

My thumb hasn't been very green this year...I've barely managed to maintain my yard, which means I haven't spent much time on the flowers this year.

But thankfully, God created perennials for fickle gardeners like me, and I still am able to enjoy wonderful bursts of color in my yard even though I have done nothing.

After hibernating all summer, my mums have opened forth with their beautiful cheery yellow and you just can't help but smile when you look at them.

There's not much in life that doesn't require some kind of maintenance at the least, and more importantly, some TLC. This morning, my mums reminded me that even when I am neglectful, God is still out there doing His thing. Always faithful.