I saw a lot of beautiful people in India. Physically, just beautiful. Dark-eyed, exotic, bright-smiled beauty. But I couldn’t help noticing all the babies with — what looked like — big birthmarks on their sweet faces. At last it occured to me that I might ask.
One of my gracious hosts explained to me that parents often smudge their children so the gods will not think they’re beautiful and want to steal them.
Don’t all parents think their children are beautiful? Certainly, Father God does. Shouldn’t we all walk around with smudges on our faces?
What saddens me is that most of us don’t walk around with an awareness of our beauty — the glory of Christ — but, instead, a profound awareness of the ugliness within. We spend days reflecting upon the smudges (scars, really) on our souls; the tax of sin waged by the enemy of our Father. We want to hide the mark Christ has made on us before the world.
Want an adventure? Look in the mirror of God’s word for your beauty today. (Check out Psalm 149:4, Ephesians 2:10, 2 Corinthians 4:18). Get lost in His love for you. Stare his beauty in the face. Get the image of your face smudged with His unconditional love and Fatherly pride. Think of how He wants to empower your pretty soul to attract others. We are marked by Him for His glory.
It depends on what part of India. The area my family is from people put black dots on children’s faces or black bangles on their wrists to ward off the evil eye (curses that others may put on your child out of jealously, spite, or any other ill intention). There are members of my family who continue to do this despite the fact that they are Christians. I think they continue on with this superstition not necessarily always fully believing it, but with the idea that it’s better to be safe than sorry. I equate it to Western superstitious behaviour such as knocking on wood, throw salt over their shoulder, or wear lucky socks. The only thing these things do in a person’s life is preserve their dependence on fabricated rituals to make them feel better rather than trusting in the protection of God.
In reference to the reason you were given, I like your analogy. And it’s true; most of us don’t walk around recognizing our beauty.
Thanks for the insight! Yours is a fascinating culture — the more I learn, the more I want to understand. (Incidentally, sorry it took soooo long for me to respond to your comment…I love your input!)