Perception
"You're more beautiful than Cinderella, ('s Fairy Godmother)
you smell like pine needles (rotting in stagnant mud)
and you have a face like sunshine" (...has been shining on it for 20 years)
Oh the wrinkles...Where'd they come from? Seems they showed up overnight...unannounced. Unwelcome.
The grey hair was intentional. I was tired of fighting it and decided to just roll with it. Turns out, I picked a good time too! Young girls are intentionally making their hair "platinum" as my farrier called it, and grey hair is more beautiful than ever.
Having an ombre effect in your mane is even better. I was with-it! My roots continued to grey as the color faded from the ends of my locks and once in a full moon or so, I'd trim the ends; to promote growth you know. Happiness filled me. I was carefree!
But the wrinkles...I didn't ask for those.
Shar Pei and Bulldogs are cute with their velvety wrinkled skin. Their saggy pouting eyes bring out the softy in anyone.
That isn't so with my aging appearance...
Hardly ever peeking in the mirror I just didn't notice what was happening to me. Sure I put on make-up and fix my hair a few times a week. Mostly only if I'm headed to church. But today, I decided to take a before and after selfie...I felt pretty good as I was heading to town for my monthly grocery trip. A task that saps the life out of me, and that's just mentally preparing to go! Never mind the actual going! I put on the specs to make sure the photo was in focus and all I could see were the wrinkles. Lines. Lots of lines on my face. When did that happen?
Oh, I've noticed them before I have to admit. And honestly, I wasn't unhappy with my snapshot. Number one, I actually didn't look as tired as I thought I would and secondly, I see so much in that face of mine.
My Grani looks back at me in those eyes. When I look into them I see the same things I saw when I looked in her eyes. Eyes that saw the good in others. The will to help people and love her family to a fault. Believe it or not I even see the kindness that was in her eyes. My eyes aren't as dark as they once were, maturity and life have made a difference there. Possibly the changes in my heart have made the biggest difference and the peace in my soul; if it's true the eyes are the window.
My smile tells a story too. That's another trait I've inherited from another grandmother. I can't remember ever being with her that she wasn't smiling. My smile reminds me that I am happy. I have so much to be happy about and I'm very grateful for the joy in my life.
But the wrinkles. Well, they remind me that I've lived. I've worried, I've grieved, I've laughed and I've grimaced...I've been angry, hurt, perplexed, happy, surprised, blissful joyful. I've laughed until I've lost my breath and even snorted in that big honker of a nose as I gasped for air during a laugh attack.
I don't mind the wrinkles. Maybe they're the beginning of many more. Hopefully from smiling a whole lot more. Perhaps from turning my face to the sun more often. And laughing. Laughing and kissing and squinting and living. Living my best life. Living the life God has planned out for me the best I can and being thankful that I can have happy lines to show for it.
There's a reason the really good potato chips have wrinkles: that's where all the good stuff gathers. And the best cardboard is corrugated; it's the strongest.
Maybe I'm not as cute as a shar pei pup, but I've got a lot of good stuff and I'm strong. I have the wrinkles to prove it.
Philippians 3:13-21 ".... (21) Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."
BACF: I don't pretend to understand the ways of the world or even expect anyone to understand me, but I do understand that we are to look toward the end goal. The things of this world are not of Christ. Their end will be destruction. As a follower of Christ I will get my conversion in Heaven. When I see Jesus face to face, I will be as perfect as can be. Just as He made me to be.
