Who is That Old Woman in My Mirror?


Quite a few years ago, I was asked to show my ID at a register. When I pulled it out I became confused. How in the world did my mothers's drivers license get in my billfold? She was right behind me in line. Did she have mine?

Shockingly, it WAS my ID. When had I got so old?

I had a nose ring/stud for many years. My boyfriend, who was older than me, in his sixties, did not like it very much. We were at a buffet restaurant and as he paid the young girl at the counter she said,
"Wow, I have never seen an old person with a nose ring."  He had a good laugh. I did not.

It is now a decade (at least) later. I look in the mirror and feel shock. That person has some chin hairs, a saggy neck, age spots, (I prefer the term freckles), thinning hair. It can't be me. And where is my strength, my agility, and what is with these aches and pains that get called things like Arthritis of the spine? The temperature is never right, it is always too hot or too cold.

I look at my check book as I contemplate, maybe a face lift or a tummy tuck. Nope, not even enough for a gym membership. I feel kind of downhearted. Are the gifts of old age, only wrinkles and a weak bladder?

So what does the Bible have to say about this?

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16

 OK that's a start

 Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days. Job 12:12

 Wait, I want to be PRETTY, not smart.

 I was searching around on posts for information on aging as a Christian (hoping I would find something that would say, "Sure take your life savings and get a facelift").  I found a Baylor University article about how our society views the elderly. Not in a positive light, but the conclusion was heartening.  It basically said that Christ calls us to serve others and knows no time limits.

 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life. Proverbs 16:31

 Not as long as there is a bottle of Clairol left on the planet! So I will probably keep dodging mirrors, exercising to stay as fit as I can, and keep serving God all of my days.

 I pray for you, my friends as I hope you will pray for me.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

10% down and 10% a month

Does that sound like a rent to own sales agreement?  So much down and so much for a period of time until the goods you purchased are paid for.  This brings me to a touchy subject TITHING. I have never been very good at it. For one thing, when you are poor, as I have been most of my life, I felt I could not spare any money for the offering plate.  I had an electric cut off notice, four children with overdue lunch bills, a broken lawn mower with neighbors complaining about my yard, a blind husband who had anger management issues, and the list went on. Battling a lifetime of depression didn't make the picture any rosier.  I could excuse myself because 2  Corinthians 9:6-7 says "  whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully [ a ]  will also reap bountifully.   7  Each one must give as he has decided in his heart,  not reluctantly or under compulsion, for  God loves a cheerful giver." I was not a c...
Read more

That Old Black Magic

Look at your life. Pretty fabulous isn't it? I know one flick of a finger and I have light and heat (or cool air), the twist of a wrist provides a torrent of water, at any  temperature I choose. It might be icy cold for drinking or near scalding for a shower. I have magic boxes in my home. There is one that keeps food cool and slows spoilage. Another whirls my clothes around and around in soapy water to clean them and another twirls them around in a heated box until they are dry and fluffy. Several of these boxes provide entertainment, news and music. I have another small box that lets me speak to my children no matter where they are in the world. If I run out of food, or just don't like what is at my house, I have another magic box on wheels that rolls me out to a food gathering source, called a grocery store. If I want someone else to cook it for me the same magic box will take me to a place called a restaurant. I have this other really large magic box that provides a...
Read more

Joysuckers

Two blogs in one day. A bit much isn't it? I was laying in bed last night thinking about this quite a bit. You know how nights are, your mind can go to dark places, old hurts. When I was a preschooler the show American Bandstand was on TV on Saturday mornings. I would emulate my teenage aunts and dance those dances with the strange names Frug? A relative laughed at me and said I couldn't dance. It wounded me. I never danced again. Junior High dances were an agony and by High School I never went again. And the age of Disco? Well I was hot in my red Disco dress, but it never went to the dance floor. I love to sing. Loudly if I know all the words. I think that might be why Dawn moved to a different pew, behind me instead of right in front. My first husband asked me not to sing with the radio. He said it sounded like cats in heat. I quit singing. Everytime I wanted to sing, I remembered that remark. Joy was sucked from me. The happiness of dancing, of singing were ripped...
Read more