“Gentle, quiet spirit”

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 1 Peter 3:3-4

Verse Reflections:  “The unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.”   Uh Oh.  I have more of a cheerleader yelling screaming hugging necks and squealing type of spirit.  I have a lot of work to do today.  What will happen if I walk into the office all quiet?  I think everyone will wonder what is wrong with me.  Yikes!  How do I incorporate this verse into my personality?  My sisters and I went to New York together so Dad offered us $500 each if we got on Good morning America.  Well, we did… Mom’s reaction was “Of course, you would be the one interviewed”.  I don’t think that was a compliment but we did get our $500 each.  Yes, that is me.  Maybe if I look at enough translations one of them will use the word “peaceful” instead of “gentle”.  I do have a peaceful spirit when I start the day with God.  I am nice but I am not always gentle with my employees or my husband either.  I think I might have some major changes to make.

Okay, now that I have had a major heart attack in reaction to this part of the verse I will back up and focus the major message that we should concentrate on our inner spirit today and not our outer looks.  I love this part of the verse.  I grew up in a home that did not focus on looks.  I was very proud of myself because I wore mascara for my senior picture.  I think I even put on makeup when I was elected to the homecoming court but I am not sure.  My Mom (who is beautiful) would sometimes forget to brush her hair before she walked out the door so we always kept a brush in the car.  We are not the kind of family that spends an hour getting ready in the morning.  So I love this part of the verse.  God is reminding us that our beauty does not come from our hair being perfect, the ultimate outfit or the jewelry we wear.  I am sure we can add that our beauty doesn’t even come from having the perfect body.  He knows that our spirit is much more important than what we look like.  Today let’s focus on our inner spirit as we eat the foods that He has made for us.

Prayer:  Father, help me remember that I don’t have to look perfect.  Those clothes don’t have to fit me perfectly.  I need to focus on the inside, on my spirit.  Ironically, when I do this I actually stress less and have less compulsive cravings.  I guess You know this which is why You wrote this verse.  You are going to have to gentle and quiet me down because that is not my natural spirit.  You know I dance and sing around the house when it is just me and You by ourselves.  I always thought You enjoyed that about me.  Hmmmm.   Give me a gentle spirit today.  I know it will change the way I respond to others.  I love You, very much.  Part of me is teasing about my reaction to this verse. I know You are using this peaceful, gentle, quiet spirit description to remind me to keep the battlefield down in my soul.  If my soul is quiet and gentle then I will not fight my compulsive urges to eat.  I have a feeling I can still shake my booty and dance with my crazy self while we gentle my soul.  Thank You for this verse.  Here is to a quiet, gentle day.