Aging

I am going to a wedding this weekend, that of a very dear old friend. This friend and I grew up in church, and later, Drill Team together. The last time I saw her was at my own wedding, more than three years ago. I am also seeing another dear, lifelong friend at the wedding this weekend. Our reunion is making me feel more than a little sentimental.

As I was planning in my mind what I want to wear to the wedding and the things I need to do to get ready, I thought "Darn! I need to dye my hair." Now, many of you know that I started graying in my early twenties. What you might not know is that the last year has not been kind to what I used to think of as my beautiful, dark-chocolate colored hair. I am rocking some gray streaks right about now, but I go through periods of time when I accept it and don't really care. I had been in one of those periods for about three months, until tonight when I panicked at the thought of my childhood friends seeing me and thinking that I'd aged.

Isn't that strange? These girls probably love me and accept me just about as much as any of the members of my inner circle do. We were friends throughout the teenage years for Pete's sake; a time ruled by so many hormones and emotions as to give one the appearance of having multiple personalities! You really couldn't pay me to go back and relive my high school years.

Why is it then, that we are embarrassed by the signs of aging? The time between high school and now has grown me into a much more mature and steady woman, and the childhood beliefs that I was taught from birth have advanced into a firm faith. What used to be black and white (I was ever so dramatic) has been filled in by shades of grace. Instead of being embarrassed by the outward changes in my body caused by time, I should instead be proud of the inward progress I've made.

Proverbs 16:31 says "Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained through a righteous life." I know that I have a long way to go before I feel that I can claim a righteous life, and it will take many, many more years and gray hairs to get there. And I don't consider myself to be wise yet, but I pray for wisdom. I also pray that God continues the good work He began in me long ago until it is finally finished. So, instead of worrying over the fact that I look older now than I did when I was in high school, I'm going to be excited about the things I can share with these dear friends of mine now that we are grown. I think they're going to like the changes in me, gray hair and all.