Should I write something meaningful, or write what's on my heart? Meaningful loses.
The topic of choice today is change. Sister Jacquie posted a picture of herself, Patsy and I taken a few weeks back. It did NOT make my day. Think of a pale, albino tomato with big red lips, faded eyes, and a human body that has been neglected over the last few months(years). That is what I saw in the photo - and the tomato was NOT named Jacquie or Patsy! Although I can't get rid of the picture on other fb profile pages, it was removed from mine within a matter of minutes! Need I explain? I've changed. Gone is the thin, long-haired, young girl that used to live in my mirror. She slowly left with each bite of brownie, each day of sitting instead of moving, and with each new sunrise and sunset. If you younger women are like I used to be, you probably think you won't ever get to this point. Warning! It can happen easier than you think.
This week, when Patrick's girlfriend was visiting, I found myself wanting to show her pictures of a skinny, younger me. And I did. But I wasn't so "transparent" as to tell her WHY I was showing her the photos. She thinks I wanted her to see baby pictures of Pat. "Isn't Patrick cute?!" Translation: "see how exquisite I was?!!" barf.
I think the aging face in the mirror is God's way of preparing us for eternity. We see ourselves getting older, weaker, wrinklier and know our days are numbered. Aging also has a way of humbling those of us who are too concerned with our appearance and it causes one to ponder what makes a person valuable. The inside or the outside?
Am I learning this lesson? Hmmm, I think I'm just beginning. To be fair to God, He has not made me fat. I did that. But the wrinkles and faded eyes are a message from Him - "your body will only last so long."
So as I look in my mirror tomorrow, I need to remember there are two messages for me. One is from the Lord: you are mortal. The other is from my body: respect me.
The End.
