Monday Morning Ramble

Gray sky, gentle breeze, leaves falling, fire burning brightly in the stove, lamp light chasing the dark from the corner of the room.  Clock ticking, beans baking, a perfect Monday morning, aside from the cold I have acquired.  Box of tissue on the table, a rose from Emery and a hand made card he gave me this morning, far more meaningful to me than a store bought one.  A big mug of Throat Coat beside me.
I was thinking this morning about how so many women in my age category are so bent on chasing away all signs of aging.   Getting older is not fun, but it is part of life.  You can chase away your gray hair, have a face lift, spend a fortune on cosmetics that might make you look a little younger but still we are aging.   My grandmother and mother were content to let each year give them another wrinkle or gray hair.  They never tried to look younger than they were.  Never tried to deceive themselves or others about the years and experiences in life they had gained.   There was a sense of honor in growing older and wiser.    At times I think about people like Tasha Tudor, she was admired even in her grandmotherly appearance.  What would it be like to watch Andy Griffith and see Aunt Bee with blond hair and botox ?  Or the grandmother on the Walton's to be heading off for a make-over ?  Why are we so afraid of aging ?  If we think age will render us worthless, its not going to be fixed with a box of hair dye or night cream....it will take an adjustment of our thinking.   Proverbs 16:31 tells us that..." Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness."    Why hide that ?  Why hate admitting we are aging when its all part of the great plan in life ?   Why try to fool others and ourselves into thinking we are not where we actually are in life ?  Why are we so afraid of growing older ?   Old is not ugly, it is just different than young.   Are we consumed by vanity ?   Its far easier to just accept our appearance as we age, not trying to fool anyone into thinking we are not the age we are.  Greater peace found in acceptance.   I am a firm believer in staying healthy, vibrant and as nimble as possible, but trying to look younger than we are, will never add another day to our life.