Do not adorn yourselves outwardly by braiding your hair, and by wearing gold ornaments or fine clothing; rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight. 1 Peter 3:3-4

When I met Bessie Wilson in 1978 she was probably 90 or so. I remember her so vividly after all these years because she glowed.  She was always smiling, but not in a blank way.  Her eyes smiled.  Her mouth smiled.  She looked and moved with serenity.  I heard stories of how active she and her husband Royal had been in years gone by.

But soon after I began interacting with Bessie I realized that in order to smile and glow like she does now, with so little control over her facial expression, she must have been practicing these warm smiles for bunches of years.  That’s the only way glowing could have become her default look.

I thought, “I’d better get started automatically encouraging with my smile now so I can grow into being more like Bessie Wilson.” 
1 Peter 3:3-4 describes so well this ordinary saint. 

Let’s all start cultivating our glow now.
  
Marian Stephen

About the Contributor

Marian Stephen is a member of Nazareth (which started practicing holy living when George Washington was a young man). She has been a Ruling Elder, teacher, retreat speaker and servant.