The Sunday Mail
“You don’t have to look like what you are going through,” Pastor Abigail Magwenzi says on the cover of her book “The Red Lipstick Stays On”. Instead, she advises that no matter what is happening in a woman’s life, she has to wear her red lipstick with glam andallow it to hide her sorrows.
If you ever felt accused, abandoned, annoyed, bruised, troubled, violated or wounded, Pr Magwenzi’s book is just for you. Which means it is a book for everyone. Faced with certain adversities, crying is allowed. However, you must “cry one more time if you must but dry those tears once and for all”.
The purpose of the book is to spur the reader into action regardless of the difficulties faced. The reader is encouraged not to allow what they are going through to determine how they think, act, talk and look. According to Pr Magwenzi, the application of red lipstick is an indication that she has chosen not to allow life’s circumstances to define her.
It is a symbol that represents victory over the enemy’s strategies. It symbolises a strong and resolute woman who has taken on so much abuse, accusations, pain, bruising, rejection, humiliation, stress, you name it; she has been through it all and yet she perseveres.
“This woman has made a decision to be more in control of her life,” Pr Magwenzi says.
The woman who wants to beat adversity does not make her decisions based on worldly wisdom, she draws her strength and inspiration from God.
“The words that come out of her lips are covered by the blood of Jesus which is the same shade as her red lipstick,” reads part the book.
Pr Magwenzi encourages readers to be guided by seven cardinal rules: wake up, get up, clean up, make up, dress up, glam up and — mostly importantly — show up. The book’s seven chapters address various areas of life, with the author recommending that the reader go through a chapter a day. She says the reader who repeats the weekly cycle over seven weeks will begin to experience a paradigm shift of the mind. And why the number seven? Pr Magwenzi explains that in biblical numerology, seven represents completion and perfection.
Using a method that makes her message stick, the author picks icons for each day of the week to help reinforce the message. Sunday is depicted by the cross, Monday is high-heeled shoes (mobility), Tuesday sees the reader making lemonade (choices), on Wednesday it’s about creating wealth, then there is throwback Thursday to remember that we should never be victims of our past, footprints Friday is for the woman who leaves a legacy behind, and Saturday’s style is depicted by sunglasses.
Each chapter starts with an inspirational quote from the author, followed by a scriptural citation. The author then digs into the topic of the day, supporting her messages by drawing examples from biblical and contemporary case studies. All the chapters end with a prayer. Throughout, there is extensive use of pictures and graphic illustrations to keep the reader hooked. The book’s only shortfall is the fact that the author appears to be talking to women only. With such a powerful message that can benefit both women and men alike, Pr Magwenzi could have broadened her audience.
“Woman, why would you want to complement the drama and the stress that is surrounding your day to day life by allowing yourself to think, act, talk and look like what you are going through? Woman, you need to pull yourself together,” she specifies her audience, in the process alienating male readers. Besides that, Pr Magwenzi’s “The Red Lipstick Stays On” is a very interesting read and many will find it easy to follow the recommended seven cycles of reading.
