Many many years ago when I was working in Detroit (and before we had kids) I had a co-worker who once asked me for a ride to work.  She lived in the same city as I did on the south side of Detroit and her car had broken down.  She gave me her address and I assured her that I would get her the next morning.  As dawn peeked over the horizon, I pulled up in front of the address she had given me and went to the front door.  I knocked softly.  As the door opened, I was suddenly afraid I had knocked on the wrong door.  This young lady at the door was still in her pajamas and not at all ready to go to work.  She had different hair and a different face than my co-worker.  Dang it – I must have got her address wrong.  “Hi,” the girl said in a familiar voice, “I must have over slept.  I will get someone else to take me to work – thanks anyways, Laurel.”  She said.  Oh my.  It WAS her.  I just didn’t recognize her without her hair done and make-up on.

I recalled that story this morning as I was on my way out the door to the gym.  It would be silly to shower before working up a sweat – but I hesitated before going out the door without some make-up on!  What if I saw someone I knew and didn’t have my make-up on?  Oh come on girls – we’ve all been there.  We have all made that dash to the grocery store with our bare faces on – hoping not to run into anyone we know.

It made me think 🙂

There are certainly times when we have to put on a different “face.”  We put on a brave face for our children during scary circumstances, we put on a happy face when we have to try and enjoy an unfavorable situation, and there’s also the poker face and the straight face.  But when we wear those different faces we are still recognized as our selves.  Now a major make-up paint job that totally changes your looks is one thing – but has your behavior ever made you unrecognizable?  How about that time you lost your temper and went into a screaming rage?  Or the time you drank too much and were obnoxiously drunk and belligerent?  Or that time you were hanging with the wrong people and you were trying to show off?

Many times when Ted and I are getting ready to go someplace I will tell him to wait just a minute while I finish drying my hair and putting on my make-up.  He will reply, “You don’t need make­-up, you have natural beauty.”  Thanks honey!  But he really needs to just put on his glasses!  There’s nothing wrong with enhancing what you have and looking your best.  But I want people to always see ME and I hope ‘me’ is someone that pleases God.  Quote Shakespeare:  “To thine own self be true”.  Go William Shakespeare!  I couldn’t play a different role all the time and be a different person based on the company I keep.  Some people live like that all the time – there’s Joe at work, Joe with his friends, and then Joe on Sundays at church.  Although I must admit, there are times I am more Christ-like than others which means there are times I am NOT very Christ-like.  I better work on that.  🙂

I don’t want God to be looking for me some day and not recognizing me.

just Laurel

Matthew 10:32-33  Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.  But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.