Building Up

During my couple of days off from the play earlier this week I was so excited to just dress down and let my hair go product and hairspray free. Sometimes it's nice to just be simple :)

This is another blouse I received from my wonderful friend Candice! She knew it was perfect for me because well, butterflies hello! Also it's one of my very favorite colors and is so perfect and light for summer.

So ladies, can we talk about dressing rooms for just a moment? The other day when my sister and I were shopping there was a woman who asked for my opinion on a pair of pants. I told her how nice they looked on her figure and she just proceeded to say how she had to cover her fat butt and hips. This woman was beautiful, probably about my size and had no reason to say that about herself. More and more I hear these types of comments while in the dressing room. Women constantly cutting themselves down and making comments like, "Oh I can't zip this dress up because I'm so fat" and on and ON. Sometimes I just want to yell across the room at them, "You are beautiful and stop fishing for compliments!" Because, really that is the only thing that puts any ugliness on your face at all- a bad attitude and harsh words coming out of your mouth will make others see those things in you. You can know that you are beautiful without having to force others to tell you that you are. When I do give someone a complement, it is their immediate reaction to contradict me. If I tell them they have pretty hair they say, "No, it's frizzy" and so on.

I'm not saying I've never acted this way, but I've come to realize that that behavior has got to change and I'm working on it. It doesn't do any good to complain about your appearance, it isn't as if your fairy godmother will hear you and remove a few inches from your waist. All it does is foster dislike for yourself and put down all of the good things about you. 

This is a verse that I absolutely love.

Ephesians 4:29

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

 There is no need for any discouraging words to pass through our lips-it isn't helpful. What we need to do is edify one another in our strengths and attributes, to recognize in what areas others need encouragement and to build them up in that area. And that includes ourselves. You know yourself and what traits you dislike. Don't let any bad thoughts about those traits cloud your mind to the great things about you. 

And DON'T talk about them in the dressing room. 

Srsly.

I may slap you.

:)

Thanks to my sister Jeni for the beautiful photos and inspiration to write this post!

God Bless all you TRULY LOVELY ladies (and men?) out there!

KJA

Wearing:

Blouse- Gift

Skirt- Grandmother's

Shoes- Payless