I just took inventory of my bathroom drawer. It is filled with all sorts of short-term solutions for my visible long-term problems:<\/p>\n
Eye cream:<\/strong> for those puffy, tired mama eyes All this ladylike organizing brings me to one conclusion: without all this stuff, I\u2019m a mess! It\u2019s as if the world is shouting at me from every direction, \u201cYou\u2019re not good enough!\u201d<\/p>\n The grocery store line helps to feed this inadequacy. Style and celebrity magazines use their glossy pages to dictate trends to the masses, as if we\u2019re somehow confused on what we actually like to wear. (Really? I\u2018m supposed to enjoy taking care of my family in high heel leather booties and silk harem pants?) House magazines beckon the viewer to do yet another total room make-over, feeding discontent toward the four walls you call home. Parenting magazines are even better, showing pictures of popsicle holding cuties while proclaiming how to discipline (or not discipline, as the case may be), weaving fantasies of family weekends in the Hamptons and implying that well-adjusted mothers use only certain exclusive lines of women\u2019s and children\u2019s products. \u201cImprove yourself.\u201d \u201cDiscover your true you.\u201d \u201cBuy this and you and your family will be thrilled with the results.\u201d The guilt builds as you go through the line. I\u2019m not using this or doing that. I didn\u2019t know the latest \u201cmust have\u201d is metallic eye shadow and organic cotton pajamas. I\u2019m so out of touch!<\/p>\n Every once in awhile, when I\u2019m feeling brave enough to face the world without my armor of beauty supplies, I don my favorite ripped jeans, soft lifeless t-shirt, hat and flip-flops and enjoy going against the flow of materialism. Deep inside I know that living a life that is pleasing to the Lord should be number one in importance. He made me the way I am for a reason (unbeknownst to me). Scripture says I\u2019m made in the image of God. I am \u201cfearfully and wonderfully made,\u201d as Psalm 139 declares. So if that\u2019s true, why in the world am I trying to cover up his creation? Why do I think I have to be someone I\u2019m not? And more importantly, what happened to focusing on the beauty within, simply living life for his glory?<\/p>\n So what if these tired mama eyes have laugh wrinkles? And yes, that is a grey hair peeking out of the brown. It\u2019s ok. I hear it can be a real crown of honor, in fact. It\u2019s time to rejoice in and embrace who God made me to be. Thankfully, I know that at the end of the day my worth is more than the contents of a bathroom drawer. I\u2019m one of a kind. I am priceless!<\/p>\n Anne-Renee is a full-time mom, works\/plays part-time at her family’s party store where she does all the ordering, and is an aspiring writer. She is mom to Kailee (7) and Jamison (5) who keep her laughing. She’s been involved in a MOPS group since Kailee was a baby and has functioned as a Discussion Group Leader, Discussion Group Team Leader and Co-coordinator.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nMascara:<\/strong> to elongate even the shortest eyelashes
\nToner:<\/strong> to cleanse and hydrate my dry, crackly lizard skin
\nSelf-tanner:<\/strong> a sure sign that I live in a cold weather state
\nTweezers:<\/strong> for pruning my bushy, rebellious brows
\nWhitening paste:<\/strong> to achieve that toothy Hollywood glow
\nSmoothing serum:<\/strong> to make my naturally frizzy hair somewhat less Einstein-ish
\nAdvanced care body lotion:<\/strong> for doughy, dimpled, post-baby skin
\nAnd a serious arsenal of makeup:<\/strong> to cover up everything some board of beauty products deems a \u201cblemish\u201d or problem area<\/p>\n
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