Your Greatest Fashion Accessory

Well, hello there old blog! Long-time-no-see. :) Thanks to my good friend Trina at All That Is Good, I have decided to revive this poor neglected place and visit it every so often. I am still dealing with camera issues (not having one that works, to be exact, not to mention not being a gifted photographer :P), but I am not going to let that stop me. I'll have Wes fix the camera, for starters. :)

Today's post is entitled "Your Greatest Fashion Accessory", which seems like a pretty ambitious subject. How do you decide? There are so many to choose from! Your favorite pair of shoes? Your new purse? Watch? Necklace? I would argue that, while these are all fine and dandy, your greatest accessory is one that you didn't spend any money on, one that you were born with: your smile.

I was reading an interview with Kate Hudson in "InStyle" magazine and a quote from her is what prompted this post (though I've been ruminating on it for a while): "Well, the best beauty advice my mom gave me was that you have to find happiness. People want to hear about beauty products, which my mom and I love, but we're also about having a great time." Obviously, real beauty and happiness go much deeper than "having a great time"...so where do they come from?

"A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken." Proverbs 15:13

"Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel--rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves..." 1 Peter 3:3-5

Now, if any of you are familiar with the story of Abraham and Sarah (and I'm willing to bet you all are!), you remember that Sarah was considered a very beautiful woman, prompting Abraham to lie not once, but TWICE about her being his sister. Obviously, there's must be something to the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit!

Just about every guy I talk to about women says that what attracts him the most is a girl with a beautiful smile, a thankful attitude, a joyful heart. Sure, they see the clothes and the jewelry, but to them they are just a pretty frame offsetting a beautiful picture. I have seen women who are beautiful when you first encounter them, and then they will positively transfix you with their beauty when they smile. The joy of the Lord--in their life, their family, their husband, etc.--shines through and makes them more beautiful than any supermodel you've ever seen.

Interestingly enough, smiling is actually proven to be good for your health! I guess that "a merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones." Prov. 17:22

So my challenge to you is this: smile. In our current economy we are all looking for the best, cheapest accessory. Smile while you do the dishes. Smile while you clean the toilets. Smile while you haunt your local Goodwill stores for that new summer dress (for under $6, thank you very much!) and you'll find your style quotient just increased dramatically.