“I pray thee, O God, that I may be beautiful within.” - Socrates
I always try to help our LVN’s when “Accucheck” time comes on days that I’m working. Usually, that’s the time when we, nurses, get done transcribing doctor’s orders. I like helping on the female side, as there are so many male diabetics on the other part of the Infirmary. I do that so that the deputy does not have to supervise the females and he can help out where he is needed the most: on the male side.
Female diabetics come, marching in a row. Some are walking fast, some are slow. I can’t help but notice that some of them are looking more feminine. Because they know how to improvise and create make-up for their faces. Some use the ink from pens as their eyeliner. Others use coffee to use as their eyeshadow. Vaseline for their lips to make it shine as if they just applied a glossy lip gloss. I heard one time from another inmate during sick call that they wet the magazines and could get the ink from there to use as lipstick for their lips.
Doing so, what’s called “fake-up”, surely does make their appearance better. But I often wonder if they are fully aware of the environment they’re in and what brought them here at the prison. They can change their outside appearance so well using the simplest things available and even beyond one’s imagination, because of their creativity, but what matters should be the inner change. For true beauty comes from the inside. When make up bleeds or gets rubbed off, it just proves that these things on the outer part do not last. If they don't get that opportunity to change what's inside, then, they are still prone to committing crimes once released.
Many are deceived by what we see through the media or by what we hear, that an outer beauty is just something great to possess. With the invention of a lot of photo editing softwares, how true are these ads that we see that highlights the outer physical traits?
“Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.” - 1 Peter 3:3-4 [ESV]
For other inspiring posts, please visit Spiritual Sundays, hosted by sisters Charlotte and Ginger.
30 DAYS OF THANKSGIVING - 14
7 hours ago
Rosel, that is an awesome post and an awesome reminder. I know you didn't do it for this reason, but I felt convicted for what I posted on my blog. Thank you for ALWAYS keeping it real.
ReplyDeleteLove you bunches sister,
Lisa
Another great post! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteAmazing what they will use to try and make themselves "feel" pretty! Breaks my heart!
ReplyDeleteI have soo missed visiting here and learning from you this week! I pray for you right now as I know you are working and serving the Lord and all those around you! May you feel HIS Strength and Love flowing in and through you my precious friend! I love you so!
Excellent. Thought provoking and great use of a video. I want to show it to my daughters.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Rosel,
ReplyDeleteI just read a great devotional this morning speaking of this very same thing. I am constantly reminded that it is our inner beauty we need to be concerned with and the things that only God can see.
Love and Hugs ~ Kat
What a great post...so glad that I stopped by tonight....
ReplyDeleteThanks for talking to my heart, love you.
ReplyDeletethose inmates trying to make themselves feel pretty on the outside....but inside are hurting, lost, broken...I find it really sad...Great post...as always.
ReplyDeleteI too find it quite sad that they would resort to pen and coffee to try and make themselves look a little better. The inner beauty should be their concern. How much we are influenced by the world we live in that does nothing but shout the importance of the outer beauty. How different might things be if it were the inner beauty that was pushed. This was a great post as always Rosel. Have a wonderful week-end. Hugs, Debbie
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sarah - these women are hurting inside and looking for answers.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Rosel - I always enjoy reading your blog.
Blessings,
Joan
I didn't know this about the inmates. Great inspirational message about the beauty of the Lord being our priority!
ReplyDeleteLove,
Mary
You are so right. Physical beauty fades but spiritual beauty gets more beautiful. I have the feeling that the inmates are learning a lot about inner beauty from you as you relate to them and help them.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
How very sad,but this really touches us all in our secular world. Beauty comes from within as you say....Great post.
ReplyDeleteSo true.Great post to think on.
ReplyDeleteCindy
I think that, because we were created in the image of God, all women desire beauty. You've only to look at creation to recognize that God is beautiful. It's just that the outer beauty has to come from a true inner beauty.
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to these inmates who recognize their desire for beauty, but most of whom don't realize it's source. I'm comforted knowing that you are working there; you're such a good nurse and example of Christ's love to the inmates.
We're created in the image of God and, even with the fall, we still bear his stamp. God is most definitely beautiful; we've only to look at creation to verify this truth. I think this is why the heart of all women yearns to have a beauty to unveil.
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to these inmates who recognize the yearning, but don't understand it's source. I'm so glad that you are there; you're such a good nurse and instrument of God's love in that place.
Aw. That is sad for those women to go to such great lengths to look prettier. If only most if not all knew the joy of the Lord as we do... Just think how beautiful they would look and feel.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing this with us. God bless you, sweet lady!!
This is very intersting, I never new the females did that. I'm so glad that the Lord knows me from the inside.
ReplyDeleteThank-you for this great post,
Ginger
How interesting, yet so sad! It's a shame they don't recognize that true beauty comes from the inside! But then, even in prison, they want to feel better about themselves. You have quite a ministry there among them, and I know the Lord is using you. Thank you for your post.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Sandi
this post is so real and true Rosel!! Very little truth ever is relayed in the media especially in photos. The only beauty that is real and true is given to us by our creator both inside and out!
ReplyDeleteThere is just too much emphasis put on looks these days. It is hard for young girls. That is a wonderful verse ans post. Thanks for your sweet visit. Hugs and Blessings ~
ReplyDeleteRosel,
ReplyDeleteVery interesting to see how some of the women incarcerated improvise makeup for themselves. So sad they don't know that true beauty is inside...
Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my Friday 55! It was a fun exercise to do.
Blessings Rosel...What a fascinating blog as regards the lengths people go through to "feel pretty"...it truly is sad to me, because your words are so true. It is the inside that they should be working on for their release and change for the better and applying their creative endeavors to healing that brokenness, hurt, anger, from the inside out. It saddens me that our society does put so much emphasis on the outer beauty. Great blog and the video clenches it but God's Word speaks forth the truth. Now this is easy for me to say, cuz I'm not much in the makeup, fix up the outside me.
ReplyDeleteI have enough just working on the inside!
I'm glad to meet another Don Moen fan. Thank you for the reminder of how God wants our temple to shine with a gentle and quiet spirit..whoa...years to go for me to work on this! Enjoy a wonderful Spiritual Sunday & weekend in Him!
Wonderful post dear one.
ReplyDeletePraying to be like more Jesus inside and out.
Have a lovely day.
so true... I never would have thought of those things to use as makeup... I guess I don't care about makeup as much as I thought... =)
ReplyDeleteThanks for all you do to help these men and women.
ReplyDeleteWonderful Post !
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
~Myrna
My Sweet Sister,
ReplyDeleteI apologize that it has been a bit in commenting here. So much going on here physically and emotionally especially in the past couple of weeks...I've found it hard to get to a lot of blogs during this time.
I am amazed that these women go to such lengths in what they use for makeup...just to try to look and feel good about themselves...so sad...so very very sad. I pray that a strong anointing fall on this prison, this place where you work day in and day out...I pray that His anointing falls so clearly and so deeply on this place and I pray that He continues to use you more and more and more in this place filled with people who are hurting, desperate, angered and so much more. I pray for His peace to fall on all of their hearts and that they be changed totally from the inside out in Jesus precious name. Amen!
I love you my precious sister...so very much. I have missed coming by and commenting.
{{Big Hugs}}
Alleluiabelle
I feel sorry for these ladies. They might not be so beautiful on the inside yet, if they haven't invited Jesus in. So the outside must feel like all they have to work with. I often thought about what it would feel like to live in jail. No privacy, and apparently no creature comforts of makeup and curling irons? I didn't know that wasn't allowed.
ReplyDeleteWhat a unique position you are in to love these women right where they're at!
Wow! That is amazing what the women come up with to use as "fake" up! And the video is a wake up call, too. What a powerful message both the post & video are to show the difference of the way the world judges & the way God judges. What a great divide. Very convicting. Have a blessed Sunday sister!
ReplyDeleteWylie
A great reminder of the truly important things in life.
ReplyDeleteWhat an incredible video! That was really eye opening about how that ladies use makeup. Fascinating! Yesterday I saw the movie Precious. It so grieved my soul. It made me think of the ladies as well as men that end up in jail and the loveless lives they are raised within. I can see now that God is clearly putting all of this before me, I just don't know why yet. I received mail from Prison Fellowship asking for money. I don't have much, but I am sending some along. :)
ReplyDeleteOne of the sweetest things my husband every said to me was that what he loved about me was "my heart." Heart beauty trumps face beauty any day. Lisa Bevere wrote in a book years ago, using the scripture of the woman in chains who was freed but stayed in bondage because she didn't know how to live delivered. Another book that my son read in YoungLife training was "To Tell the Truth" that discussed how the language of the Christian could not longer be used in reaching youth for Christ because youth were no longer raised knowing who God is. Imagine saying to a teen, "Hey, when you die and go to heaven, do you want to hang out for eternity with God the Father?" Well, if the only father that youth has ever known beats him and curses him, then he probably wants to run the other way. So you need to define what kind of Father God is - and give examples of what He has done for your life.
ReplyDeleteA poignant post about women who want to feel beautiful - kind of like the woman at the well getting regular water when Jesus offered Everylasting Water!
I always enjoy your applications of life in the prison to the scriptures. I'll need to come back to watch the video. My computer is running slow tonight for some reason so it starts and stops the video.
ReplyDeleteBlessings.
Rosel, important great reminder. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! This is one of your best posts!
ReplyDelete