Princess

I was homeschooled, so I never participated in a prom. However, the college I attended had a “Liberty Ball” every year which was a fancy formal ball, at a local plantation. The girls (As MInTheGap has mentioned in previous post¹ ) always spent many hours getting ready…the hair, the makeup, finding the right dress (and accessories, of course!), and then putting it all together.  Even when I didn’t attend, I still helped do several girls’ hair and makeup, and spent time “oohing” and “ahhing” over the lovely dresses.

One thing that was always difficult for me though, was comparing myself to some of the other girls that were getting ready. I wished I had that one’s naturally curly hair (oh, how nice not to have to curl your hair for a fancy event, but have it be like that all the time!), or that one’s ability to afford an expensive dress, or this one’s petite-ness and small build. It is something I struggle with anyway, but in the normal ins-and-outs of classes and studying I didn’t always feel less pretty than the other girls; our differences didn’t always feel quite as obvious to me. But when, for a whole day and evening, our focus was on “getting beautiful”, it was easy to feel as though I was the one who stayed boring, and all those around me were so much prettier or cuter than I was.

Thankfully, my school was attended by mostly conservative girls who didn’t buy immodest dresses to wear, or (wrong as it is) the comparing would have even been harder–because there would have been “more” for everyone to see, to compare myself to.

Now, I’m not saying all this to get sympathy. I’m telling the story, because I understand that most girls are constantly aware of their physical “faults” (at least they think they’re faults). Their legs are too short, their hair is the wrong color, or they feel “fat”.  If you attend any sort of formal or fancy dance this year, you may find yourself making comparisons between yourself and the others around you…especially if the other ladies are in more revealing gowns. It might be easy to feel that you are ugly or heavy or short or thin or…whatever.

But I want you to remember that no matter what you feel your faults or problem areas might be, you are created in a special way that never has been or will be copied. You might feel insignificant or boring, but in your Creator’s eyes you are the most beautiful little package that He ever made. So don’t dwell on what you think is wrong with you. Don’t compare yourself to other people or wish you were different. Remember that you were made on purpose for a reason, just the exact way that you are. Get dressed up for your special event rejoicing in the fact that in God’s eyes you are a beautiful princess, a daughter of The King who was made for His delight.

A wife to my handsome man and mama to my little man. I spend my days fixing meals and cuddling. I live in the cold, cold north, where there are four seasons: almost snow, lots of snow, more snow, and the two days of summer. I love the subject of modesty, but am dissapointed that there seems to be so little of it in today's clothing. Maybe this will be my very small way of helping to bring it back.

1. There’s Just Something Special [↩]