I see you, Mama – the same girl who used to spend countless hours in from of the mirror.
She’d make sure her makeup was done to perfection and her brows perfectly tweezed. Not a bloodshot vein in sight in those pretty eyes of hers.
Every hair is in place and her outfit has been changed at least 3 times to make sure it’s just right.
Now? Well, she’s lucky if her face gets washed. On special outings, she might throw on a 5-minute makeup look – most of which is spent trying to make her eyes appear a little more rested. And eyebrow tweezing is more of a monthly occurrence these days.
And her hair. Yeah, it’s probably up in that well worn mom bun. On a very special occasion, she might have blow dried it. But still, she doesn’t even notice it.
Notice what, you ask? Those few silvery streaks starting to grace her lovely crown.
In the day she finally does notice – OH, THE HORROR. When did it happen? When did she stop being the young girl she still feels like on the inside?
That young girl is still there. Only now, those gray hairs are there too as a testament to how much she’s learned and sacrificed. God said it best:
Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life. (Proverbs 16:31)
Mama, you didn’t notice it, but your hair started to turn gray. While it was happening, you were learning and growing more than ever – in love and in righteousness.
You were spending sleepless nights in the rocking chair. You were teaching your child to read. You were buried under piles of laundry and dishes. You were being a servant.
Why are we so quick to hide these shimmery strands that say so much about us? That testify about far we’ve come, how much wisdom and experience we’ve gained?
Because we still want to feel like that pretty little girl in the mirror who has changed her outfit 3 times, each ensemble as cute as the one before. And that’s okay, Mama. You deserve to feel beautiful.
But it’s also okay – no, awesome – to embrace the gray.
Why are men in our society often viewed as more handsome and dashing with gray at the temples, while women feel the need to dye it, hide it, and highlight it so they can look as young as humanly possible?
Why can’t we start a movement to make salt-n-pepper hair gorgeous on younger women, too? It’s a lofty goal. This mama‘s doing it and it looks awesome.
Me? The girl who’s never donned a speck of dye on her head? I’ve succumbed to the pressure and will probably be embracing colored hair pretty soon. I’m not quite ready to look “mature.” I’ve got some silver streaks that aren’t too noticeable yet – and vanity is getting the better of me.
Much credit goes to my husband. He is constantly telling me he loves the gray hair, that he finds it beautiful and sees that every strand is earned.
Whether you choose colored hair or decide to go au naturale, your kids and everyone else are very blessed to experience your beauty every day.
This girl? Yeah, there’s a salon chair with her name on it.
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What do you think? Should you embrace your gray hair and stop trying to hide it? Or will you have fun trying to look as pretty as possible, whatever that means to you?
With Joy,
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