Yesterday I picked my grandson up from pre-school or as he so fondly calls it— Preachery School due to the fact it is in a church building!  As we were driving down the road he asked me, “Why do you always have to look so beautiful when you pick me up from school?”  First, I thought, ‘I look beautiful to him?’   But, then it hit me— the Holy Spirit has been working overtime it seems (on me!) trying to help me understand that I need to represent Jesus well.  In other words, if I go around slopping around looking grungy, in sweats, hair in disarray, and then the biggest of them all no make-up, then to others (and I never know who might be looking) it makes Jesus appear slovenly.  In other words, I don’t represent him well.

            All of a sudden I pictured in my “mind’s eye” Jesus lying around looking unkept and sloppy.  Then, saying to us as we would pray to him to help fix our lives, “Yeah, what do want?”  “Huh?”  “Whatever!”   “I am just too tired to answer your prayers right now.”  And right off the bat I knew that if I really wanted to represent God well that I needed to care about my appearance.  If we are Christians then we are the ones who can be Jesus to others.  Yes, there are times that (when I am alone) I bum around the apartment in more comfortable clothing, but it really isn’t a lot anymore.  And, I try to eat my food just as if I was out in public where many could be giving me “the hairy eyeball.”  

            By making the effort (to at least appear groomed) I have started to care more about everything…I have become more congruent.  And just on the down side; I feel better about myself for at least trying to be better in areas that are hidden from others.  I have always heard, “It is what you do when no one is watching that can determine how much God uses you when everyone is watching.”  And quite frankly, he sees it all anyway!

            Years ago, I worked with a hairdresser and she happened to be taking her lunch when a co-worker came in to announce that her next client was waiting.  She replied, “Give me time to freshen my lipstick.” I looked at her kind of quizzically but thought, ‘Yes, I know what you mean.’   When I feel that I at least look the best that I can then I do everything better.  The old adage—if you look good, you feel good and if you feel good you do good holds true.

            My question to you is this:  What is the mirror saying to you about you?

Molly