How to Grow Long Hair - Pt 1

"The Gift Of Long Hair"

          I was recently asked the question, "Do you have any tips for growing long hair?"
          The answer is YES! I do!  As I started to write a list of growing long hair tips, the list turned into this article about long hair.  I hope you will read it and look at your hair with new eyes and then come back later for the helpful tips on how to grow long, healthy hair.

          In a world of feminism where women are trying to become like men, long hair is becoming increasingly rare in our culture.   So why have long hair?  

Credit unknown

          In 1 Corinthians 11 we learn that a woman’s hair is her “Glory.”  It is a special crown that God made especially for women to make them distinctly different from men.  Today, we are taught that we must compete with men, to be better than them and that we can do anything they can do.  Women are deeply offended when they read verses such as 1 Peter 3:7 when it says, “…husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel….”
    “The Bible just called us WHAT?  I’m not weak!  I can do anything that a man can do, in fact, I can do it better!”
          The writer of this verse did not mean the word “Weak” to be as in wimpy or not capable of doing anything. A husband is to treat a woman gently like one would treat a rose.  A rose is precious and beautiful, but it needs to be treated gently so it can bloom, if not, it will wilt and die.  
          In Proverbs 12:4 it says that “A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed (Or she who brings shame) is like rottenness in his bones.”
           To understand this properly we have to look at the word - “Virtuous”  This word means,  “Good, righteous, worthy, honorable, moral, upright, honest”

          If you have ever tried, or are working to become a virtuous woman, then you should know well by now that to become virtuous takes a very TOUGH woman!  It’s so much easier to be bad then good, unrighteous then righteous, unworthy instead of worthy.  To do things that are not honorable, moral, upright, and let’s not forget honest! It’s much easier to force our opinions then to humbly listen to others, to insist on our own way then to consider others as better then ourselves, and it is much easier to be served then to have a true servant’s heart.  Though most women would never admit it, they are not the virtuous woman in this verse but rather the one that brings shame upon her home and upon her husband.  One of the biggest reasons for this is our increasing desire throw away a crown and want to replace it with a dirty shovel instead.  
          So what does this have to do with hair?!   I’m getting to that…
          When God gave woman her long hair, He gave it to her to be her glory, as a precious gift from Him to make her distinctly different from the man.  I find it fascinating that when  God created humans to be made in His likeness, His image, to show His glory, that the distinguishing comment that He made about what He had just created was not of how smart they would be, or how beautiful they would be, or how creative, but rather He glorified the fact that He made them as “Male,” and “Female.”  As “Man” and “Woman.”   He created them so that working together they could form an image that portrayed His ultimate beauty.  Contrary to popular opinion, the Bible never degrades women nor does it demean men but exalts both as being the most precious creation of God.  (But that’s a whole other blog post)
          Our world says that gender no longer matters and that there is no need for anything distinctive difference between men and women, in fact, you can now even chose what gender you want to be!  But to the Lord, gender does matter and so do distinctive factors like hair and outward displays of pure, true femininity. 

          If you have long hair or you want to grow it long, what is your motive?  Is it to draw attention to yourself?  To try to fit a certain style? Or is your heart to treasure the special gift, the “Glory”, that your Heavenly Father has given you as a woman?  If you have short hair, what is your reason? Insecurity? Fashion? Rebellion? Or just annoyance and not wanting to take care of it if it were long?  Would you be willing to view your precious hair, whatever color or texture it may be, as a special gift from your Heavenly Father and be willing to care for it and treasure it as the glory He has given you? Will you use it to ultimately use it to point back to His perfect glory?

          We look at hair as a way to express ourselves, to display our style and our personality.  To be chopped off or dyed in one impulsive moment.  But would we be so rash if we could see our hair as the precious gift that God has given us as women?  Imagine a Father who loves His daughter so very much that He gives her a precious crown to wear on her head and she takes it and discards it in the dirt as if it were nothing.  That would hurt…

          Most of you will probably never have knee length hair or ever hair that reaches your elbow, but would you be willing to look at your hair as the gift that it was intended to be? Not comparing your gift with the hair of others and trying to constantly change it, never happy with what’s been given to you.  Would you be willing to truly look at it as a gift and something that you can use to point to God’s ultimate goodness and glory?  I hope you realize what a special treasure that you possess.

          If so, then you are now ready for tips on how to grow long, healthy hair!  To be posted on October 20th.