Mascara?

"Mascara?", my boss asked me this morning. "Hillary, you have such beautiful eyes, I remember when I first met you and you always had make-up on and your eyes were like 'woah!' and now you look like...like a little girl. Put some mascara on. You look like crap today."

Unfortunately, this isn't the first time my boss has criticized me for not wearing make-up or not wearing pants. See, we are no longer allowed to have space heaters at work because they could "start a fire" so complaining about being cold, my boss simply said, "Why don't you try wearing pants for once?" And apparently, now wearing no make-up makes me "unprofessional".

Okay so I just have something to say to this -- I DON'T CARE! I am not living just to be "professional" (although I believe I always am), nor am I living to please men (and apparently my boss) with dark-rimmed eyes and provocative eyelashes. What I am striving for is holiness -- a beauty I have, just the way God created me.

Okay, the bottom line - why do I need to add to God's creation? Why do I need to "paint" over my face? Let's talk about where make-up started -- with the Egyptians that were enslaved. Marked with ink as ownership to their masters. The prostitutes painted their eyes and lips to seduce men. Until the 1960's, anyone woman that wore make-up was considered to be a harlot. Make-up is exactly as it says -- to "make up", cover up, hide, disguise, mask. Make-up is used to make a woman look more sexual - wide eyes, full blushed lips, and flushed cheeks.

So, boss, excuse me for not wanting my face to look seductive in front of the hundreds of old men that sit in front of me in my office each week. I am there to work! I am there working as an Apostolic Pentecostal woman who is passionate about her holiness unto the Lord.

Sure, it would be much easier to cover up the zits, brighten up my cheeks on a tired day, paint my eyes to draw attention. But who am I really trying to please? As the apostle Paul asks -- men or God? There is no man worth giving up my holiness standards for. I never will. I am a living sacrifice to God, holy and pleasing to Him. I am a temple of His Holy Spirit. Inwardly AND outwardly, His Spirit manifests itself. I am His; He calls me beautiful. And that's all the matters. That's it.

My boss knows full well what principles I hold to in my life so it's almost offensive... it frustrates me, makes me angry... so upsetting that I must blog about it here because I've just had it! And I don't believe I am alone in this. I think a lot of girls are tempted to please the world with their appearance, especially if you've got someone in your everyday life bringing you down to do so. But let me encourage you girls from the word of God:

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." (Proverbs 31:30)

"As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.' " (1 Peter 1:14-16)

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." (1 Peter 3:2-4)

Sisters, we have an incorruptible beauty. We are of high worth in God's sight. That is the greatest compliment of all.