Princess

Being the mother of girls is a chance to revisit joys of my own childhood. I love to play dress up! Now I get to play alongside my own children. My girls love to change clothes over and over becoming one character and then another. Their favorite dress up game involves becoming a princess. Chose any Disney princess and they have accumulated articles necessary to become that lucky girl.
First, the appropriate ball gown is chosen. It is complete with sequins and tulle. Next, the perfect shoes must be chosen. The best are the plastic imitation glass slippers. A most important piece follows and that is the crown. We have many to choose from in different colors and styles. All are made with rhinestones and plastic painted silver or gold. One cannot forget the matching plastic and rhinestone jewelry. Finally, the newly created princess proceeds to the throne in the playroom. The throne is a beanbag chair with the faces of princesses on it. The princess takes her seat. She smiles from ear to ear to reveal precious baby teeth. Orders are given with the wave of a scepter and loyal subjects quickly follow them. Sometimes such power is taken advantage of as orders are given to bring out the play makeup as well. These orders are usually followed by sheepish grins and a chorus of, “Please, Mommy!” that is sung in at least six syllables.
There are times when I smile at imagination gone wild. I’ll give in and pull out from the unreachable shelf a case of makeup. Bright green, blue, and purple eye shadows are applied with fingers to all areas of the face. Lip gloss is smeared in thick layers and sometimes even highlights teeth. Body glitter is rubbed from head to toe. It brings out subtle color changes even in hair.
One could say that they are just being girls. And I suppose there is truth to that. Little girls love to dress up. I don’t think that desire ever goes away. Big girls may not have the opportunity to put on their princess dresses very often but we sure enjoy a good makeover. Cosmetic counters and beauty salons rely on that yearning to stay in business. And when we can’t have a makeover ourselves there is always a good makeover show on TV. We can watch others makeover their wardrobes, their makeup, their hair, or even their homes.
The problem with these makeovers is that they leave us incomplete. Soon a new look becomes old. That perfect outfit that made us feel so beautiful looses its power. The roots begin to show again and our bangs need a trim. THE color yesterday is outdated today. Our makeovers are an endless race to achieve the impossible.
God did the original makeover show. Makeovers are His business. He eradicates our poor attempt at princess attire and clothes us with robes of purple. He takes off our tacky, play makeup and replaces it with true beauty. He removes our fake dollar store jewelry and adorns us with grace. He combs out the rat’s nest we have created in our hair until it is smooth and shiny. He does away with our rhinestone and plastic tiara to crown us with His righteousness.

“I delight greatly in the LORD;
My soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
And arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”
Isaiah 61:10