Sunday, September 6, 2009

Being Frumpy

Hi. My name is Chrissy. And I am frumpy.

Hi, Chrissy.

(Have you noticed I'm a member of several support groups these days?) ;o)

Let's start out with a definition, shall we? My husband HATES it when a speaker says something like, "Webster defines such and such as..."

Sorry, honey. That's what I'm going to do, though!

Webster defines frumpy like this:

frump (frmp)
n.
1. A girl or woman regarded as dull, plain, or unfashionable.
2. A person regarded as colorless and primly sedate.


I wish I knew when my official frumpy days actually started. I'm pretty sure I was fashionable in the late 90's while in high school. Even the beginning of my days at SBU were fine. I had people to impress after all. My professors, my fellow undergrads, my RA.

But as the years went by, and as I found my true friends...and when Josh decided to attend SBU, too...I just stopped caring so much. T-shirts and jeans were my all-occasion attire for the most part.

I have clung to the following verse:

I Samuel 16:7 reads, But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

I must clarify: I don't think that just because someone looks nice means they are consumed with their outward appearance. Not at all. I think some women are just better at selecting fashionable or trendy clothing.













For my friend's 30th birthday, I used a shirt that belongs to my sister (which I haven't returned because it's the only nice thing in my closet currently...hope she doesn't read this blog today and ask for it back)! As you can see, I broke away from my t-shirt and jeans and TRIED to look cute, but I'm the only one in black.

Part of it is because I really hate to shop. I hate to try on clothes. I don't want to spend the money, and I don't want to pick out something that I might not like when I get home. I know, it's weird for a woman to think this way. Most women love to shop!

But I still come back to that verse. I still tell myself that God looks at my heart. And it's true. If I'm out having a nice time with my friends or my husband, and if I feel comfortable and confident in what I'm wearing, then does it really matter? I don't think it does.

And let me tell you...reading something this week from a friend who lost her dad made me think about all of this even more and on a completely different level:

My dad is whole and perfect and spotless now-standing before the King of all!!! Wow! Who cares about this shell that we call bodies! It seems ironic to me that people spend so much time perfecting their bodies...working out, tanning, make-up, hair, even surgery...even though this same body that we spend so much time perfecting will all end up as a pile of dust! All the compliments you receive-meaningless...all the time at the gym-meaningless...all the heads you turn-meaningless....yet-these are the things people pursue.

Do most people not realize that 110 years from now this entire earth will be repopulated? Not a single person who is here now will be here in 110 years...so what are you leaving as your legacy? They will not remember your beauty, or your wit, or your charm, or your career...but they will remember if you made a difference. If you chose to focus on your children, to raise them to love the Lord instead of focusing on your career. If you chose to help other people who are struggling instead of putting that extra money into a bigger home or nicer car. If you chose to pursue a more meaningful relationship with family and friends who surround you instead of pursuing a personal love life.....these things are all meaningless! Meaningless!!!

It's time to start leaving your legacy! In a matter of moments, we will all return to dust!

Wow, what powerful words. Why should I even care if I'm frumpy? It doesn't even matter if I don't like to shop. It doesn't matter that I was the only one wearing black to my friend's birthday dinner. What does matter is what I'm doing with my life. For His kingdom. What legacy will I leave? Will anyone care what I wore to church today a year from today? NO!

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Colossians 3:17

I've just come to realize that being frumpy is ok. God tells me to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. And I chose to do that wearing t-shirts and jeans. :o)

3 comments:

Mary Ellen said...

This post is inspiring. I've been feeling frumpy lately. I used to love picking out something to wear, doing my make up and hair. But now a days, I'm lucky if I make it out of my pajamas and get showered. And then I usually just throw on anything that doesn't have spit up on it! You made me realize that in God's eyes, even spit up on my shoulder is ok! Thanks!

Ashley said...

I agree hole heartedly with this post Chrissy. Sometimes it scares me how much better I feel about myself when I do dress up and look "nice" though... Thanks for the challenge to get rid of those feelings!

sonjamichelle said...

You look better in that black shirt than me anyway....just keep it....and if I find the green one, you can have that one too.

I think people see what is on the inside more than you think. That is why people see how beautiful you are and You dont understand why. Even in a t-shirt and jeans you are a hottie.

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