Pretty is as Pretty Does

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement
Pretty is as Pretty Does

The woman was beautiful—gorgeous hair, perfectly coiffed with make-up skillfully applied to hide the flaws, but not dominate. She wore a dress in a flattering style and a becoming color. But her tone of voice was less than lovely as she gave the waiter a dressing down for some complaint I couldn’t hear. I didn’t need to hear in order to determine she was displeased with something. Her facial expression matched her tone of voice and spoiled the lovely picture she presented with her appearance.

I thought of the expression I heard my mother use when I was a child. Pretty is as pretty does. This lady looked very pretty, but her facial expression and her tone of voice was anything but pretty. Nor were her actions when she got up in huff and flounced out of the restaurant. A number of eyes followed her wake, because we noticed the unhappy scene she made in her angst. The waiter shrugged his shoulders and retreated. The maître D, also a pretty girl and beautifully dressed, spoke to the waiter in low tones no one could overhear. She patted the crest-fallen waiter on the back and gave him a smile that lit up his face. Her ‘doing’ was much prettier than what the elegant lady did. The room relaxed and went back to eating their meals. How appropriate that saying of old is even today. We can spoil the impression our appearance makes by how we behave. We are a better testimony to ourselves and our God if we can manage to act kindly in every situation. How we behave has a more lasting impression on others than how we look. It behooves us to try to remember we are ambassadors for our wonderful Lord Jesus wherever we go and however we speak. God help us be good ambassadors for You.