For those who might not understand, Lent is a 40-day period on the Christian calendar from Ash Wednesday until Easter Sunday. Its original observance was focused on self-examination and self-denial in preparation for Easter. Now, a lot of people use it as an aid to weed the negative things out of their lives.
I love the ideals of the fourth-century. Using these 40 days to get in touch with yourself again and really focus on The Lord is, from personal experience, the best way to spend this time.
As a female college student in her 20's, who's stuck in a world where all 14-year-olds miraculously look exactly like Kylie Jenner, confidence is a tricky thing to come by. Like, why aren’t they wearing blue eyeliner? Why do their clothes look better than mine? How do they contour like that? Seriously? Does Limited Too even exist anymore? Go there...
If you’re still with me, thank you. Because we’re at the climax.
Since I was a freshman in college, I’ve given the same thing up for Lent every year. Every year, it teaches me something new. It’s not Diet Coke, queso, or pizza, or goodness, please don’t give up Netflix. It’s make-up.
When I tell this to people I get the same reaction:
"Oh, my gosh! That's so awesome. I have so much respect for that."
Ladies, let me tell you something, I've had so many men compliment me on the beauty of my eyes. We spend all this time trying to draw them in with the way we do our eyeliner and shadow on our eyelids. We try to bring attention to as many eyelashes as humanly possible. Without a single bit of make-up on my face I've gotten more compliments on my eyes than I think I've ever received. Not only that, but about my appearance in general.
“Hailey, you look different. You look fresh.”
My morning routine is so awesome and let's not mention quick. My skin has cleared. It’s soft and feels light. To be completely honest my confidence has boosted. Sky-rocketed. I feel great in my own skin. And that’s not always something I’ve been able to say.
One of my favorite things that this has shown me was Jeff Parshley's tweet:
"We all get so caught up in being pretty. Let's be pretty KIND! Pretty FUNNY. Pretty SMART. Pretty STRONG."
I mean he is not wrong.
Every human deserves to feel great in their own skin. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and once you get over the lie that makeup makes you beautiful, you'll see that your natural self is the way God intended you to be: the most beautiful creation. Even He is in awe at the sight of you! I highly suggest, in fact, I challenge every female to this. You'll find the truest beauty.. and let me go ahead and tell you: it's you, pretty girl.
“She is more precious than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare to her.” Proverbs 3:15
