Todays Prompt: Elegance
Several years ago, during my coffee with Jesus time, I heard him say I would have sassy sixties. I had just turned 60 but did not understand what He meant by that. So I did some research on the word and prayed about it. Here is the definition we came up with:
Sassy: lively, bold, audacious, vibrant, stylish, and a little feisty.
Definition:
Stylish is having elegance or taste or refinement in manners or dress.
Elegance is the quality of being graceful and stylish in appearance or manner; style. It is the quality of being pleasingly ingenious and simple; neatness.
Elegance is beauty that shows unusual effectiveness and simplicity. Elegance is frequently used as a standard of tastefulness, particularly in visual design, decorative arts, literature, science, and the aesthetics of mathematics. Wikipedia
Elegance, stylishness, and gracefulness seem to go hand in hand. But why is elegance a trait we want to cultivate?
The Why:
I believe the main reason we should cultivate elegance is to become attractive to others. People tend to gravitate toward and want to imitate elegant and stylish people. If we want others to see Jesus in us and want to follow Him, our manner or dress should not repel them. As the old saying goes; "You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."
So, now we have a reason to become elegant, how do we go about it?
The How:
Elegance starts with inner peace and confidence in who you are.
( In case you forgot: You are a beloved child of God; His most precious masterpiece; lovingly furnished with everything you need to accomplish the plans and purposes He has assigned for you to complete during your time on earth.)
Proverbs 31:10-30 gives us some good instructions on how to be elegant.
An elegant woman shows up for her life with enthusiasm.
She is
- Trustworthy
- Never Spiteful
- Generous and compassionate
- Wise shopper
- Organized and prepared
- Dresses appropriately for the job at hand
- Enthusiastic
- Quick to help others
- Does not worry; stays calm and in control
- Smiles
- Speaks kindly and is a good listener
- Is looked up to by family and friends
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 lists the characteristics of love, which are essential to being an elegant person.
4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
Our next word is imperturbable. We will be visiting with some women of the bible who remained elegant in some difficult situations.
What does being elegant mean to you?
**This post is part of the #write28days Challenge, writing and posting EVERY DAY in February
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1 comment
I appreciate you sharing the how and the why of elegance, Jodee. I do want to have people attracted to Jesus in me and not to be repelled by anything I am doing, speaking or wearing. I’m going to ponder your words today.