Clothed in attitude

I read a short article by Greg Laurie the other day about Ruth Graham being in the hospital with her fourth hip replacement surgery and hearing the news that her beloved, Billy, was coming in to see her that morning.  The article interviewed Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of the Grahams.  Anne told of how Mrs. Graham got up from her wheelchair and asked Anne to help her put on a new dress and fix her hair and makeup.  The article went on to explain the love between the Grahams and the high priority  Mrs. Graham put on looking her best for her husband.  Then it starting urging wives to do the same today.  My first thought was "yeah!" and my very next was "how absurd....". 

For a woman in her "twilight" years as they described her, this was something women often did for their husbands.  (I assume.)  But today, I have friends that don't even own a dress.  I also have friends that won't generally leave the house without full make up and are horrified if you catch them at it.  I have friends that are so vain... who are always making statements like, "I'm so out of shape."  "I need to lose about 15 pounds."  "Oh my gosh, look at me... I look horrible."  Statements like this go in one ear and out the other for me, so I cannot imagine how tuned out their husbands are to these types of comments.  These are women that don't dress for their husbands, they dress for themselves and everyone else around them.  I have other friends that only wear oversized t-shirts and sweats or gym shorts... (elastic waistbands).  The self-esteem of these women is very low, too, much like that of the vain woman.  Yeah, yeah... I hear you loud and clear- comfort.  I don't buy it.  I just wish that these women could look in the mirror and see what God sees at this weight or this season of their lives.  He sees his very own masterpiece.  I wish every woman could go shopping with a professional stylist, much like Stacey London and Clinton Kelly on "What Not to Wear".  Time and time again you hear them saying to dress for the body you have right now, not for the one you wish you had...  God's idea of perfection is not a certain size or weight; it's the whole package.  I believe his idea of the perfect woman is one who is balanced. Women are beautiful creatures, but what makes us lovely?  I will tell you that it's not our individual features which we were born with but what we do with them and the attitude in which we occupy them.  There is nothing more lovely that a woman who loves herself and loves her husband... who is content in her heart and serves others.  People are attracted to her but not because of her outward beauty but because of her confidence and her attitude.  A balanced woman is completely comfortable and satisfied in her own skin and her attitude is that of love and gratitude.  So back to the original thought that triggered this line of thinking for me- I don't think a new dress and a little makeup can fix  the sour attitude so many women have.  Even a beauty queen is ugly with an attitude of a shrew.  And yes, I occasionally wear gym shorts and oversized t-shirts.... but look for every excuse to pull out the "little black dress" my husband loves to see me in.