Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil.~Ecclesiastes 9:9
If you didn't know, I've been going through this natural hair journey going on 5 years, and when I tell you it has been a process, MAN!!! My hair may be natural and chemical free, but let me tell you it's far from easy maintenance. But what you may not know is my natural hair journey began with Lowell. And what seems like just a natural hair journey on the outside, is actually a true revelation of how someone, the one for you, loves you for you, in your natural God given state.
If you know me, you know my hair used to be permed, whipped, and straightened 24/7. And it didn't help that my step mom was (is) a beautician, and I was able to get my hair done at the drop of a dime. Not that anything is wrong with hair care and what not, but what I never took the chance to try to realize was that underneath all of that store bought hair and products, was natural beauty. But I was clouded from seeing that, for various reasons. My better half however, saw through it all. He didn't care about my hair or how straight my edges were. He saw me, the real me, my soul. It's amazing how God can use someone to reveal yourself to yourself. The more in love with him I fell, the more I started to see the layers of my internal onion unfold before me in the mirror. Coincidently, during this time in my life, his (Lowell) relationship with the Lord began to increase, and God started to reveal my true beauty to myself just by being a bystander. The Holy Spirit began to speak to me, and help me accept me. This is what happens when 1, you're in tune with the Holy Spirit, and 2, you're with the person who God created you to be with, and that person puts God above all else.
And it doesn't even have to necessarily be natural hair, like in my case. It can be anything that masks the real you (makeup, clothes, etc.). When God gives you the person you're suppose to be with, they'll simply love you for you. And in return, it'll help you overcome any insecurities you may be battling. I thank God so much for my husband! He loves me in my natural state, and he loved and accepts me for being me, flaws (that I saw) and all. He reassures me and my insecure conscience that I'm beautiful, that I'm perfect for him, that in his eyes, I have no flaws, that I was fearfully and wonderfully made. I can be walking around exhausted, in my robe, baggy sweats, with my hair all.over my head, and I'll catch him staring at me with googly eyes like I'm walking down the isle again. As a woman, I think we need that type of authentic love and encouragement. So I dedicate this blog to my husband. For allowing God to use him to help me see the beauty in me! It pushes me to be that Proverbs 31 woman, wife, mother, servant for God. It holds me accountable to this Christian walk and makes me want to do/be better.
Not only that, it's helping me be a better example for Peyton and Max. All this stuff is much bigger than just self acceptance. Our marriage filters into other areas of ministry, and it's example is helping set the foundation for the future Ostlund generations. So with that, I thank God that I've accepted me for me, and for Him using Lowell to help me in that area. Now I'll continue to allow Him to mold me into the woman He wants me to be, for the greater good!
If you haven't met "the one" yet, be patient. It's going to happen, and I know its easier said than done. And when it does, you'll know. You won't have to question true love, because wants the beat for you. If you're with "the one", continue to work on and cultivate your ministry.
He (Lowell) saw the queen in me, and helped me to see it myself.