Popular Enough?

So I'm sitting in HPA's devotions and announcements the other day and I'm just a wee bit bored so I was observing the girl's hair in front of me. I was noticing how she had done her hair that day (a little straight with some curls added in..obviously done by a curler). Now...lately my sister has been on my case about letting my curls be natural...not blow-drying my hair or curling it with an iron...as that will completely ruin any girl's hair (fraying the ends and making it look very ragged). Also, I'm supposed to use only conditioner and no shampoo as the shampoo dries out my hair and strips it of its natural oils. So...that being said...I've been noticing girls' hair more often. And this particular girl's hair was very dry...no natural shine whatsoever. This made me think...and so I began to look around the room at more girls' hair. All the popular girls had very dry and unhealthy hair with the latest fashions...curls or stick straight...nothing wavy or natural looking. All the "unpopular" (as we'll call them...they're really not unpopular just not looked up to and seen as the prettiest girls per say) had very nice and healthy looking hair with regular and ordinary hairstyles. Nothing extravagant or unneeded. Popular girls really don't have it all...they go through so many more wasted hours of needing to have the perfect makeup and hair (I'm talking to myself here too!). Also...when was the last time any popular kid brought a packed lunch to something like HPA? Whenever I see them eating it's usually fast food from McDonalds. 


This all got me to thinking even more! It's not just their physical lives (eating and hair and such) that is damaging them...it's their popularity! I don't want to group all popular and amazing people in this group, because I personally know so many very sweet and *awesome* popular people! But in general whenever I see a super popular person they are being cliquey..hanging out with only the coolest and popular kids. Gossiping about people (I see this all the time!) about other popular and unpopular people (overheard this way too many times). They lead lives of falseness...faking that smile because you're supposed to be the prettiest and bubbliest...not the sad little popular girl. Popular kids have the title "popular" because they are always "happy". But honestly...for the popular people reading this...how many of your friends can you really rely on? How many are there for every bad day...willing to stay up till 4am on your bad nights? How many of your friends can you be 100% honest with 100% of the time and know that they'll always stick with you? Not just fake it...not just pretend to be a friend...but really be there. I constantly deal with the stress of "am I popular enough?" ...when in reality it's not the thing I need to worry about! Whether or not my hair is in the latest style...whether or not I have enough makeup on...I can always count on my friends and my God. My God will never leave or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5 look it up!). My friends are human...and can err...but the ones I have I trust. I love them deeply and passionately and won't ever leave them. When I make a friend, I keep a friend. As a follower and a light of Christ I am to be what He is for me...a brother (or...I guess a sister in my case) and a true friend. Always there...always reliable...always trustworthy. That is far more valuable than any amount of popularity could ever be. 


So take a moment next time you're tempted (I'm talking especially to girls here, but also to guys) to be that "extra cool kid"...to be cliquey or fake...to spend extra time looking the part...and just think of this verse:
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:2