What's in Your Heart?

I was recently reading a magazine article by a New York stylist on beauty products for women. She recommended full beauty regimen sure to make any plain woman the image of her dreams - at a cost. I added up the costs of her recommended products - $46 foundation, $40 shampoo, etc, and determined that in order to follow her suggestions, a woman would spend approximately $360 a month on beauty products. Let's be honest, a majority of women just do not have $360 a month for beauty products. Some of us do not have $360 a month, period. For many women, $360 is an electric bill, or rent, a car payment, or even the sum total of all bills for a month. For mothers, the budget can be even tighter. This article is not alone. The majority of magazines I have read or simply perused have had similar articles.

So, what are we to conclude? That only wealthy New York stylists like herself can afford real beauty? Or that only celebrities who can afford phony surgeries that make them into something they are not can uphold a standard of beauty today? Only women who can pay obscene prices for modern "beauty" matter? That the average woman cannot be beautiful, cannot gain her husband's attention, cannot be accepted as a lovely person?

I think not.

First of all, may I suggest that beauty does not start with the outside. Yeah, you've heard that one before. Many times. But it really is true. No matter how beautiful a woman may appear physically, if her inner character does not reflect beauty, it is nothing. I once read a quote that says, "Face powder can catch a man, but it takes baking powder to keep him.". In a way, that quote is true. A man might see a lovely young woman, and he might ask her out because she is so gorgeous. But if she is shallow, is she has no substance to her, the relationship cannot last. Beauty alone cannot sustain love. There are celebrities whom are thought very beautiful by many people today. But their lives are such shambles because they try to make it through life on their beauty and their names. And to be honest, many of them I do not find beautiful. (Not to mention, the photos you see are very touched-up to make them look more lovely than they really are!) A woman of good character and integrity can sustain love even without beauty.

I know that inexpensive beauty products work well. I pay $1.50 - $2.00 for my Suave shampoo and conditioner each, about once a month. I buy from an excellent line of professional shampoo that works just as well as the expensive brand. I look for bargains and sales at such stores as Target, Wal-Mart and Kroger. I pay very little for hair styling products, makeup and all of my hygiene products. And I do not think I would be any more beautiful with the salon brands.

I think more magazines should have articles for women with little money to spare on such things. And just because you spend little or shop at those places does not make you a red-neck, or trashy. As I said, it's what's in the heart.

And speaking of what's in the heart, what's in your heart? Do you know the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who, though you were to be executed for your own unrighteous deeds, took your conviction upon Himself and died in your place? He wants to be in your heart. Believe in Jesus.