I am not aging well

I am not aging well.

My husband, on the other hand, totally is. He’s 40 pounds lighter than he was 30 years ago and looks like he, Brett Favre, and Morgan Spurlock all decided to hop in a Belk Men’s department Polo ad whilst giving each other a high five and riffing quirky jokes about three identical strangers.

I, conversely, recently had a photographer ask me if I could smile in such a way “so that your forehead doesn’t wrinkle up.”

My daughter caught me plucking a chin hair and first asked if it hurt and then asked when she too was going to grow a beard.

Unmentionables sag, grays declare manifest destiny, crow’s feet claw their way in…

And bring it on.

Let me tell you about a few of the most beautiful women I know…

Mary is choosing to love her aging parents well.

Melany is stepping out in courage and painting.

Martha prays for her grandchildren like it’s her job.

If they’re wrinkly I’ve hardly stopped to notice, for it’s their love that will slay you deep. Mary and Melany and Martha probably look in their mirrors and see age spots or necessary readers, but I, their disciplee, look and see steadfastness in the Lord and the deep rest gained from the practice of many years trusting the God who loves them. Where they may see smile lines, I see joy in the Lord.

This is not a treatise on turning a blind eye on that weird mole. (Please don’t do that. Dermatology first.) But there is a whole lot to turn a blind eye to. Nothing wrong with Botox (and mama here sure has considered it), but may I be the kind of woman who first considers the fruit of the spirit of a life lived with Jesus as guide, second frames the basis of my understanding of who I am because of him, and from that place, makes a decision about Botox third. From there the yes or no on Botox really matters not. And were I to choose to allow my wrinkles to multiply, may I do so in confidence, viewing them as the markings of a life lived full in Christ.

I think the Apostle Paul was onto something when he hinted at redefining what aging in the Lord really looks like. I want to lay the same claim: “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

But when the day comes that our metabolisms swap places and my husband tries to stick his grumpy, grampy, Rumpelstiltskin-toed, coldy-cold old man feet on me under the covers don’t expect me to not swear like a sailor…some things just may never change.

xo,

Holly Mackle from @sameheresisterfriend