By: Mary Annslee Urban
Not so long ago, I spied a wiry silver sprig of hair,
an interloper among my chestnut tresses. After catching my breath, I plucked the
little invader out. Meticulously, I ran my fingers through my mane searching
for more. A glance in the mirror caught my twenty-one year old daughter
standing in the doorway. “Are you looking for lice?” She asked.
Lice.
I
wish. “Gray hair.” I showed her my findings. She held the single strand to the
light and examined it closely. “It looks highlighted,” she said.
True my hair had highlights. But this was vastly
different. “The whole strand is silver.” I pointed out. “And, I’ve found a few more.”
My daughter shrugged. “No big deal Mom. Even if it
is gray, embrace the change.”
Embrace
the change? What? Like upgrading your flip-phone to
an Iphone? Better technology I can embrace―but gray hair?
For several days, I dreaded to look in the mirror for
fear of finding more daring sprouts. Hundreds maybe, just waiting to be
discovered? Or worse, crops of silver bursting through the follicles of the pigmentless hairs I had
extracted?
After a little time, I reeled in my meandering
thoughts and realized I was being ridiculous.
I was in fact, getting older. Change was inevitable,
I reminded myself. After all, with five kids, hadn’t I lived in a perpetual
world of change? From carting them to had
to participate in activities, to all night sleepovers and caring for their countless
critters. Not to mention, tackling the teen years: student driver’s licenses,
first dates, breaking curfew, even scouring cruise ships to make sure they stayed
out of trouble. And who could forget the foreign missions trips, choir tours and
a study abroad and then trying to sleep at night as the movie “Taken” replayed
in my head. And of course, tears of joy at high school and college graduations,
weddings, and now keeping up with grandbabies…
Another glance in the mirror and each shimmering strand
took on a new meaning. Silver threads of wisdom and grace. Years of motherly
love and stress had catapulted me closer to my geriatric era. Years I wouldn’t
trade for anything. Years that kept my prayer life soaring and heart grateful.
Yes, my life has been full of changes. Some easier
to embrace than others. But, as far as embracing
the gray in my hair, I’m not quite there yet.
BIO:
Mary Annslee Urban is
an author of Inspirational Romance. Her goal is to write stories that stir the
heart about love, honor and God's grace! Her debut book, Tapestry of Trust, White Rose Publishing, was released June 2012.
Her second book, She Came to See the
Snow~A Colorado Christmas Romance, will be released Fall of 2012.
Mary has also been a freelance writer for several local
newspapers and has had articles published in magazines as well as online
publications. She has served as co-president of Carolina’s Christian Writers
and is a member of ACFW. A North Carolina resident, Mary and her husband have
five children and 3 grandchildren. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys Bible
Studies, cooking, traveling, long walks and all things chocolate!
10 comments:
Those silver hairs -- Were we afflicted with them? Did we earn them? Did we win them? Or are we blessed with them? In some cultures people honor them, and in others gray-haired folks are just in the way. There are lots of questions and emotions surrounding gray hair. I'm just glad my hairs turned gray instead of turning loose. :)
Mary, Oh how we can all relate. Somehow looking back makes where we are now a better place. I wouldn't trade any of my experiences that brought me here. When I retired, I let my hair grow out to its natural color. Blond streaked with grey. I'm grateful I got this far, and I look forward to what God still has for me. Beautiful post.
Linda, ah-h-h! The signs of aging or is it? I found my first 'silver' hair as a teenager. I was standing in front of the mirror plucking it out when my mom came into the room. "What ARE you doing?" she asked. "For each one you pluck out, two come back in its place." I never forgot those words! LOL:>)
My younger sister was the first to point out my gray hairs. Being blond in the first place, I could get away with graying for awhile (after all, I didn't hide it; I just didn't notice it). Enjoyed your article, Mary, and laughed at the final line. We have to draw the line somewhere don't we?
Wow~~ those first gray hairs will do it! Mine started in my late 50's so I don't have too many yet, but every one I earned!!
I love the excuse you gave to take a cruise, Mary.:) Each child is different and we have many special memories to cherish. Thanks for sharing yours. Blessings~~
Mine started in my forties. I look back at pics now, w/ that "skunk" streak in the midst of dark, dark brown, and realize that now the "streak", a row along the back, has become the DARK streak in a world of white.
Now, if the wisdom would only take over like the grey did....one day at a time.
Thanks, Mary.
Cute article. I started turning grey when I was in my late twenties. I considered coloring my hair, but was advised against it by my hairdresser. First I'm a guy, second it would cost me a fortune to keep it maintained. It actually served me well as a financial planner. I could go to meetings with others older without grey hair and people would address questions to me. I remember my dad saying, "I don't care what color my hair is as long as I have a head full." I'm now 70, silver grey, with thick hair.
Blessings,
Tom Blubaugh, Author
Night of the Cossack
http://tomblubaugh.com
Loved this post.
Wish I could EMBRACE that type of change with more grace. I've bent with the winds of change in so very many issues in our lives - this is just ONE thing I guess I can still control - the color of my hair ':)
Until I can let that go too - need I say more?
I truly admire the thought behind this blog post!
Love the comments! Thanks for reading:)
Blessings! Mary Annslee Urban
Great post! "Embrace the change" - that's the only way to get through this life!
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