Outward beauty in this age

(Pine tree blossoms)

From McGuffey's fourth eclectic reader:
"I would desire the fairer of the sexes to consider how impossible it is for them to add anything that can be ornamental to what is already the masterpiece of nature [God]. The head has the most beautiful appearance as well as the highest station, in the human figure. Nature [God] has laid out all her [His] art in beautifying the face. She [He] has touched it with vermilion, planted it with a double row of ivory, made it the seat of smiles and blushes, lighted it up and enlivened it with the brightness of the eyes, hung it on each side with curious organs of sense, given it airs and graces that cannot be described, and surrounded it with such a flowing shade of hair, as sets all its beauties in the most agreeable light. In short, she [He] seems to have designed the head as the cupola to the most glorious of her [His] works, and when we load it with such a pile of supernumerary ornaments we destroy the symmetry of the human figure, and foolishly contrive to call of the eye from the great and real beauties, to childish gewgaws, ribbons, and bonelace." (I like to think, instead of ribbons and bonelace, jewelry, hairstyles, and makeup.)

This quote has had me pondering the vanities of this world. We are often so obsessed with the modern version of beauty, which in reality is reduced to nothing but fripperies and the lusts of the flesh. Let us cease to be caught up in it, and let's instead show real beauty. Let's reflect our great Creator with our looks as well as our hearts. This is definitely not easy to do in this age, but it is possible to be simple and yet tasteful in one's styles of adornment.

Till next time,