To my faithful readers, this post may meander since I am recovering from a bout with food poisoning. I’m hoping it was food poisoning, I wouldn’t wish my last 48 hours on anyone and certainly don’t want my family to get it. I think I’m swearing off food..forever!!
Today, one of my favorite ladies from our church is celebrating her 92nd birthday. To look at Ruby you wouldn’t guess she may be that age except for her beautiful white hair. I spent the afternoon with her on Tuesday as we worked in the kitchen together for a funeral dinner. The funeral was for a 94-year-old mother and grandmother and charter member of our Church. As Dorotha was eulogized by sons, a daughter, grandchildren and great-grands, I didn’t hear anything about how she worried about her weight or how she looked. I didn’t have the privilege of knowing her, but my guess is she may have struggled with these areas of life as we all do, but they didn’t characterize her.
Don’t get me wrong, I try to eat right and spend a lot of time exercising at our local park when it isn’t covered with 3 feet of snow. I firmly believe we should take care of the body God has given us, so I do my best to take care of my physical body. But I don’t want to be marked by continually gazing in the mirror or wondering how much I weigh. I’d rather be a woman who fears the Lord.
Both of these women could be characterized as godly, beautiful women. In fact Proverbs 31:10-31 was read at the funeral, emphasizing
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised. Proverbs 31:30
In our culture it is harder and harder to turn our back on the mirrors and scales that get so much attention in our bathrooms. Everywhere we turn we are bombarded with the ideas we’re too skinny, too fat, too many pimples, too much sugar, too much white bread…you fill in the blank. And it’s easy to catch our reflection in every window and mirror and I won’t even start with the ‘selfie’ craze that our smart phones enable us to take.
Ruby and several other senior saints I know and admire, are beautiful women because they decided a long time ago to love God and their neighbor and serve others. They looked away from fleeting beauty and gazed upon their Savior. Even though they have achieved senior saint status, they continue to eat right, exercise and spend their energies helping others. I am in awe of this woman who decided this past year to ‘enjoy God.’ I could ramble on about what it means to enjoy God but you’d probably get a better answer from her..she’s got a 40 year head start on me. Maybe I will ask her and write another post on her answer.
In the mean time shall we all turn our backs on the mirrors that show oncoming wrinkles, white hair and flabby arms and look to our Lord who is worthy of all our praise.
Happy May Day!!
