Thursday, June 2, 2011

Vanity

This is a personal one.
I've been going through a sort of crisis over the past year or so.
Aging.
Having Kids.
Feeling a loss of youth.
Noticing that all my shirts are a size L.

Every day I feel tired. And....jowly.
I'm surprised by how old my eyes are getting and how gray my hairs are. When I reach up to do my hair, I'm seeing a little more arm than I'd like to. If they had their own sound effects it would be this, "Blooberty-blooberty-blooberty..."
But I had a quick revelation tonight and I thought I should write it down so I can go back and read it tomorrow when I'm struggling with the same exact issue.
I was driving down the street and saw this beautiful girl jogging. She had great hair and muscular legs. I felt a twinge of sadness over the current state of things.
But then it was like someone whispered in my ear, "Even if you had 50 years of being young and strong and physically beautiful, in then end you would not be satisfied. Even if you turned 47-million heads. Even if you had everything you've ever thought you wanted, you would only want more."
I think these desires plague most women. A desire to be physically perfect. To be healthy. To be admired, or really, to be loved in every way.

I thought of a quote that I read a while back from one of C.S. Lewis' letters.
If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy; the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.

Physical beauty and youth could last a lifetime and they would never fill the heart.
Thank you Lord for the promise of fulfillment!
I'm not sure what that will look like, but I know it will feel like all I've ever wanted.
And thank you for changing my priorities right when physical attributes are on the decline.....
Man I love my family.
(But that doesn't mean I wont Photoshop the zits out)

4 comments:

  1. Beauty *and* wisdom: you have them both.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Heather! I think we all needed to hear that and to somehow remember it on our bad days.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm right there with you Heather!!! Thanks for sharing!!! Always nice to be reminded of what really matters......I feel like God has been working with me in this area too. *sigh* it's hard though!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love your post! I couldn't agree more. You are one of the most beautiful women I know inside and out. I could only hope that one day I can become half the women you are.
    Love you,
    Melissa

    ReplyDelete