The
following paragraph is an except from an online article in Today Health, by
Diane Mapes (Sept. 15, 2013), "America’s
Favorite age? “It’s 50 New Poll Says"…inspired me to write today’s blog.
Barbara Beck Holstein is a psychologist from Long Branch, NJ is quoted in the article as saying, “I really think 50 is the new 30 to 35. For women, you can stay stylish and fit and maybe get your hair dyed or just do a little [cosmetic] tune-up and feel, “Wow this is great.” I
say, “Lies, lies, don’t believe a word they say!” Yeah, that used to be a
jingle to a dog food commercial. ~Smile~ Ladies, 50 is 50. No it is not the fifty of our mother’s generation, we are more youthful and active then the average women who was 50 in the 60’s, 70’ and early 80’s. But it is no way, the 30 or 35 of any era…okay!! And yes, it is more common place to color our hair, wear makeup and have stylish hairdos and be more fashionable. But the average woman does not have cosmetic tune-ups and from what I see, many who have should have stopped a long time ago. When do cosmetic tune-ups cross over to vanity or obsession? Even a very well known sister-in-Christ has been tuning it up for years. From the beginning she was very open about her work with us. Her tune-up didn’t alter her appearance other than she looked refreshed and well rested. But it seems even she has been to the well a few to many times, because now her face is stiff and you wonder when you see her on TV…“What happened?” because she no longer has a natural and relaxed look about her.
What has happened with ageing gracefully? Did God’s Word change in some way or is it just that even the daughters of the King are buying way too much into the world’s hype and definition of what beauty is? I must say…it is the latter!
Sarah was 65 years of age when this happened…Genesis 12:11-13 (NIV) As he (Abram) was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.” It would reason that girlfriend must have been gorgeous for the Egyptians to want to kill Abraham so they could take her. Do you think her good looks were the result of her latest chin lift or Botox injection? No! I would be inclined to think it was because she didn’t smoke, and ate a healthy diet. They walked a lot back then and she most likely got plenty of sleep at night, and lived a stress free life for the most part. Oh, and we can’t rule out good genes. But you know what—these are the same things that help us age well today.
I purposely chose the picture of Dame Judi Dench
and Maggie Smith, because to me they are women who are aging gracefully….crows
feet and all. They both will turn 79 in December of this year and seem to be
having the time of their lives—Botox free!
In
the article Holstein also says research shows that as we age, we tend to be
less depressed, less anxious and more optimistic than our juniors. And we also
become more comfortable with our bodies.
Now
for me at age 60, this is pretty much true! But I know too many of my sisters-in-Christ
who have yet to get there. It seems more and more, women in the Body suffer
from depression and anxiety. They are sad, hopeless and struggle immensely to
be comfortable with who they are. Why? I think there are many different
reasons, but some of the most obvious to me are—we don’t work hard enough to
forgive ourselves for past mistakes and poor decisions, and forgive those who have wronged us, which makes it almost impossible to accept and
love who we are. We ignore that God tells us to cast all our cares upon Him, so
we don’t get the sleep and rest we need. And because of a lack of self-love, we
are inclined to deem ourselves unworthy.
Personally
I have worked hard (and continue) to be where I am in my spiritual walk. I have
come from being made to feel (at a very young age) that I was worthless and my
life had no meaning and I was a mistake which could only be erased by death; to…I
am fearfully and wonderfully made! My self-love didn’t happen overnight, but it
did happen!!! So, if it can happen for me, it can happen for anyone in the
Kingdom.
Sisters,
I pray you have been inspired to love and care for yourselves in a new way the
past two weeks. If you are one who feels unloved, I hope you will start the journey
of seeing yourself as God does. If you struggle with low self-esteem, I pray
you will begin to do little things to pick yourself up and experience how good it
feels to be gentle and loving to yourself. If you’re eating habits and weight
has been a battle you seem to lose no matter how many times you have tried to
do things differently, I hope you are inspired to start again, but taking small
steps with a determination to see yourself through the long haul. And if you
are one who lives in the past dreaming of being what you were 20 years ago, may
you learn to let go and find joy and happiness in the present—you will be so
happy that you did!
Until next week….be blessed!!
Love and Hugs
Ponnie
1 comment:
Love it!
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