Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! Luke 12:27,28 (NASB)
There are mornings I end up disheveled from the inside out; my thoughts are as tangled as my hair. And my room is left a mess as shirts, pants, and dresses are tried on then tossed with their hangars on the bed. Each outfit seems to add 5 more pounds than the last. I can’t find a thing to wear; frustration builds and anxiety sweats through my pores. Inhaling deep, I can’t tuck my tummy in tight enough to make my clothes fit! My closet is full of choices, but this day they seem to have been bought for someone else. I’m not comfortable in my own skin; unsure who has taken over my frazzled frame. I don’t like what I see staring back at me in the mirror, and cringe. Exhaling slowly, my hands get busy to fix my distorted image!
Mindlessly, I color my eyebrows in, thicken my lashes, and brush color across my cheeks. I curl my hair by pieces, and paint on my smile. Still, troubles line me deep! I hide my eyes behind the auburn veil so no one sees the doubt that creeps in. Losing confidence, I hope for a word…a second glance…something small. The noticing! But winter has washed me white, and weathered my body and soul. I am drained and depleted; color seems to only dress the young at heart. Invisible…it’s what I wear. Until flowers of the fields speak truth….and reframe my reflection! God plants beauty in the shaded valleys.
Lilies are dressed with a humble posture, bending low in purest form. Their pleasing fragrance lingering, and reminding all of their presence. Not even Solomon, with his royal position and vast wealth, could compete with such an offering. Beauty blooming without toil or extravagance; in their most natural state. Splendor that grows from within, and spreads outward. Lessons could be learned from their simplicity as I began to straighten the piles that had accumulated! It was time to shake off what I was feeling, and clean-up!
I pulled the blouse on the bottom of the stack over my head, and smiled at the stranger looking back at me. I saw her imperfections…the lines around her eyes and smile…scattered silver threads….aching joints, tired hands, and slowing feet. I thought to myself, she’s earned these! Years of sleepless nights caring for young children, and waiting for teenagers to walk in late. Love and worry had left their marks; born from a mother’s heart, and drawn from memories. But I knew I would do it all again. They were a reminder of where I had been, and the dreams yet unfolding.
God isn’t finished writing my story…for the love of Lily…the pure-white, southern belle still has time to bloom and bend! And He isn’t done penning your history! The sweetness and softening born from sacrifice doesn’t end at a certain age. No amount of color could replace such beauty. Time leaves its impression, but what we do with it is even more important! For the love of fields, here today and gone tomorrow, God dresses them with lilies. And He clothes us with the same. We must pass this truth on to our daughters…beauty still thrives in the graying years!
We will have days when nothing seems to fit… inhale and exhale! Embrace your reflection in the mirror, and the years that you’ve been given! You are beautiful…
Lily Mae
A saddened heart but a word of hope! May our visions be upward!