All is Vanity

 

I spend way too much time looking at myself in the mirror. Lord, have mercy! My mother is looking back at me! The aging struggle is real.

Usually, these days, I take a good quick look at who is staring back at me because the girl I once was, is long gone. But then, I remember the Psalmist's words: "Turn my eyes from looking at vanities: and give me life in YOUR ways."

Did you know that vanity means excessive pride in one's appearance, qualities, abilities, achievements, etc. It is the quality of being vain and conceited. Yikes! THAT is not a character trait I wish to have.

Then I remember that when I show dissatisfaction in the way I look, I am being ungrateful and dishonoring my Heavenly Father, my Creator. I am His beautiful creation. A masterpiece. Even if I look like my mother in her upper years!

Suddenly I make a shift to not seeing me, but seeing a story. A fierce and strong story. A life that despite disappointments, heartbreaks, and weariness, still glorifies God. Why on earth did I take so long to REALLY see me?

I really do want to turn my eyes from vanity and have the life in God's ways. King Solomon said, “Vanity, vanity. All is vanity!” (Ecclesiastes 1:11)

I have spent way too many years focusing on every imperfection. Staring at everything that is wrong and failing to be grateful for so much that is right. I scroll through Instagram posts and see those toned bodies, longing for mine to look just like them. What am I thinking? I am long past those bodies and those faces.

While I am exercising on the elliptical equipment, I remember how blessed I am to still be here. That’s when the scales fall from my eyes. What if the lines on my face that I want to erase are my roadmap to heaven?

I like to think that the wrinkles are not necessarily signs of OLD age. They are signs of BOLD age. Every line tells the story of who I am, and where I have been. Some of them are a warrior's markings, honoring the mountain tops I have rested on, the deep valleys I have completely fallen apart in, and every place in between.

Those lines are like the lines I drew on the door frame measuring my children’s height growth. These are my growth charts. They are quite literally my life-lines. And right there on the elliptical equipment, I realized I was honored to wear those life-lines.

When I pressed the GO button on the equipment, I believed I was worn out with life and circumstances, and it showed. BUT I got off thinking I had been gifted with a life well worn.

Sure, I can erase all those lines. I can get fillers, a facelift, Botox, and a high-priced moisturizer. I can wipe away my life in one fell swoop. But why? Why would I do that? Why would I take away the visible reminder of all I have conquered?

When it is my time to go home, I want every nook and cranny of my face and body to speak for me; to tell my story of surrender, sacrifice and hope against hope. The story of standing strong in the battle and weathering the storm because I built my house on solid rock.

I purpose it to be a magnificent tale of a warrior woman who met Jesus at the foot of the cross and knew there was no safer place to be. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for your cross. It was there by faith I received my SIGHT and now I am happy all the day!