So. This post might feel a little random, but it’s just been what’s on my heart for the past few days. So here it is.
This Friday is my last day at work, and next week is my last week in America for the next 11 months.
WHAT IS MY LIFE.
I have so much to do still, and so many people to see and say goodbye to, or what I like to think of it as ‘see ya later’.
In between all of this I had a birthday. This year I turned 26. It’s weird even seeing that number as I typed it. I’ve now been on this planet for 26 years.
25 was the year that I had always been excited about. You’re no longer considered that young 20-something, in or just leaving college, and people begin to take you a little more seriously. You feel a little more sure of yourself, or at least I did.
On the day of my birthday, I had someone ask me how old I was. Pretty normal, right? Every year I’ve readily given an answer, usually pretty excited about it. This was the first year that I actually hesitated before I spoke. AH HECK NO. Why did I just do that? I love the idea of aging. I really do. I love that we get to celebrate years of life. It’s a beautiful moment when people can get together on a person’s birthday and share in the excitement about having more with them. Another year means another chance to learn something new. Another year presents another opportunity to show someone love. Another year means you get to choose to gain wisdom from past years, and to spend time with family and friends. To appreciate the breath-taking beauty that is on our ever changing planet.
Another year to thank God for your life.
So, why did I hesitate?
I think particularly for women, aging is looked down upon. We have product after product to make us look 20 years younger; color to change our hair, weight loss plans. I don’t think that these things in of themselves are bad, (I change my hair color at least a million times) but the pressure and the message behind them can be debilitating, depending on the heart motive/reason for doing them. In doing hair for 3 + years I’ve seen women of all ages who are self conscious about this or that, but particularly wrinkles/grey hair. It breaks my heart every single time.
I think something that should be seen as a beautiful process, to be respected, is looked down upon because that is what we are told. From the youngest age we are exposed to what society tells us who we need to be/be doing. I might only be 26, but that comes with it’s own pressures. Your mid-20’s are followed with questions like, when are you planning on getting married? Do you want kids? Where do you see yourself at this age?
Imagine a world filled with women who were confident, bold, and know their worth at any stage in life. How things would be so different!
We live in a fallen world, and the enemy loves to have a field day in this area of our lives. But dang it, it makes me so mad, because what we’re sold about ourselves just isn’t true. There is so much more, and it’s not just for one or two people, it’s an offer for EVERY woman.
I think what we need to do here is stop and ask ourselves the question. What am I going to do with what is presented to me, and how will I react? There is a choice to be made. I don’t think that God intended for us to look at our lives as this funnel that just continually narrows down to a place of sadness, and self conscious worry the more years that pass. In fact, I would put money on the fact that He doesn’t want us to do that. We NEED to keep our eyes upward. What if we viewed ourselves the way He sees us at all stages of life? How many wonderful things do we have to look forward to? How much can we lead the next generation to keep their eyes upward? I don’t want to wait until I’m 80 to start putting this into practice. There is always something new to learn, and to teach.
And so what I’m challenging you, and myself, is to keep your eyes on the one who made you. What beautiful things is he trying to show you about yourself, that you may have been too afraid to accept?
