It's Official.....

     It's official..... I'm OLD !!!!  The confirmation came twice in one day.  I was conversing with one of my daughters as we headed to Ft. Wayne.  She suddenly reached over to the glove box and grabbed a napkin, didn't think much of it.  Then I looked at her - she was wiping tears away.
     When I first asked her what's wrong, she shrugged her shoulders then replied in a very gentle voice, "You guys are getting old."  I said, "I know" and started listing some of the unwanted physical signs that have appeared in the last year.
     The next day I shared this story with my other daughter who started to giggle a bit.  It seems that the night before one of her children had prayed, "Dear God, please help Grama & Grampa Dude because they are getting old."  If that's not a major confirmation, I don't know what is !!!!
    The photo above is of my grandmothers - Amanda Redman on the left, Bessie Marrs on the right.  They are standing in front of my cousins' house on Market Street MANY, MANY years ago.  I don't have any idea what year this was, Grandma Redman died when I was a Senior in High School (1970).
     As I've been bemoaning I mean whining/complaining about this aging process - the wrinkles, brown spots, gray in the eyebrows to name a few - this photo came to mind.  These women were not considered fat, they wore no make-up or hair color and I doubt that they ever had their nails done.  I'm making no judgments here, as I do wear make-up & color my hair. I've thought about doing some facials to get rid of the wrinkles, I've asked my daughters if I wear too much make-up for my age.
     What am I getting at?  Where is my heart in all this? I know with out a doubt that ONE DAY, this body with all it's aging imperfections will be LEFT BEHIND.  It's all right to want to look nice, but often the money I spend on it could be used for something of eternal value.  I want the things I do to make an eternal difference.  Who knows - I may still get that facial but it will not compare to the one I get when I meet Jesus Face to face !!!!
Oh ladies, I pray this will be said of us one day whether we have wrinkles, colored hair or not.


Proverbs 31:25 - 31  She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. 
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:  "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.  Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.