My mom and dad used to chuckle as they grew older, at the comments they USED to hear, when they were young ... "she is good looking!"
... and later those same people would say...
"She's looking good." Somewhere along the way, it became less about good looks and more about still being there!
I coud see the 'young me' in this picture, but it took awhile to see the 'old me'. Have you spotted her?
When I see someone I knew many years ago, I am still shocked at how old they look! At my dad's memorial service, our family saw an old friend my hubby and I knew when we were dating... my hubby said "I used to know your son!" We all had a good laugh, but isn't it true... when you are young, you think you will be young forever!
I find myself smiling at the same comments now... I still love to hear 'she's good looking', but I'm pretty sure I'm beginning to listen for the quiet comment in the background that says ... 'she's looking good'.
These are the years we are given, and making them count is more important than ever.
This verse comes to my mind a lot these days...
"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Ps.90:12 NIV)
(optical illusion courtesy of Google)
22 comments:
Yes and we need to make the most of it! It is too easy to get caught up in the external vision of ourselves and miss the internal that really does shine through...even with upper lip wrinkles...which I am claiming came from laughter and not old age.
When I was young, like 5 I knew I would never be as pretty as the girls I admired. I remember telling myself, since I would never be pretty, I needed to work at being good and sweet. When I would ask my Dad, "Dad am I pretty," He never said yes, he always said, " Pretty is as pretty does." I knew that beauty is that inward quality of a gentle and quiet spirit. Knowing that now, I am glad that someday, I will be given a new body,
that will live eternally. Looking as God sees me and not how I see me now.
I had to look and look at the picture to see the other lady. :)
Is this ever true...haha....I too had this experience just recently when I ran into a friend I haven't seen in almost 25 years....wow...but she was still the same sweet woman she had always been. Her eyes (which let you see her spirt and soul) were just the same. Have a good day!
Don't we all hear those comments now that we didn't hear years ago? But I'd rather have that beauty that comes from within as that which comes from without. I have seen some of the girls that I graduated with from high school and they definitely do not have the beauty that they had then. But many of them still had the sweet spirit that went past their outer beauty, so that was good. It would be nice to have both!
I think that you are looking great Sonja! Our looks may change over the years but the beauty within remains.
Andie
I agree with deodate's comment!!! Love your eyes!
Sonja thank you for a post to think about. Blessings.
how about the comment - she looks good for her age! - not so sure about that one!
Ain't that the truth! Every time I go to funeral or a family reunion (one in the same lately) I'm always amazed how old everyone looks... except for me of course. Sometimes it's hard to tell the dearly departed beloved dead person apart from the live ones! Ain't the golden years fun? :-)
I connected with my very first boyfriend on FB and he looks so old. I couldn't stop hugging my hubby. You chose a perfect verse for this post. Thank you for your love and prayers.
Mary
Oh my goodness! I see the "old woman' for sure in this picture... but it could never been viewed as you. oh no...
I've never seen this picture - but I saw the old woman right away... what does that say about me, haha.. I have worked with seniors for 13 years.
thanks...beautiful one :)
patrina <")>><
I personally agree with it!
Hi Sonja! Thanks for this post! I recently turned 40, and have noticed that it seems once I crossed over (LOL) into my 40's everything's starting to change, physically, for the not-so-good.
But yet, it's all a part of life. . .and that, my friend, is good. Because God is with us, through every stage in life, and oh how I'm so thankful that HE never changes! He is beauty and wisdom and faithfulness, forever and ever!
When He makes us more in His own image, we shall be like Him with each passing day/year...so as our body ages, our inward spirit will be renewed every single day!
Oh Holy Spirit, breathe Your fresh and uplifting beauty into our hearts today!
The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness, Proverbs 16: 31.
Sonja - I'll tell you what. I don't care if they say she's good-looking, or she's looking good. To tell you the truth, at my age, I'm just glad they're still looking!!
Loved the verse - older, and hopefully, a little wiser!!
GOD BLESS!
I'm a teachers aide and after a while I started to notice a trend...the kids just looked younger and yournger. I mentioned it tho the teacher I worked with and he had to say that was because we were getting older and older.... Hummmm!I still wouldn't want to go back in years for all the tea in china!
Dear Sonja,
Once I've started looking at the old woman, the young one seems to disappear..
It's almost surreal to think I have statistically lived more than two thirds of my life.
I am still so busy being born.
There are so much in my nature that needs grooming and changing, so many people I need to see to, so many unfulfilled plans.
And yet every day is a rare blessing, worth counting and using for the best. Thanks for one more good reminder.
from felisol
Time goes on for all of us. We had a 50th school re-union. When it was over I told a friend I wonder how many lies were told. "You look the same, I would have recognized you anywhere, etc."
We all had a laugh. Even though we age we are still kids at heart.
Enjoy your post.
I'm not sure why, but this actually choked me up. Aging & dying are so NOT what the Lord had in mind for us. How glad am I that in Him we mount up as on eagle's wings; and that we will one day be lookin' good forever. Phew.
Oh HALLELUJAH....this has been on my mind for so long, as you can see after having visited me dearest Sonja!!! I sometimes feel SO YOUNG in my spirit, and I HOPE that it is the spirit of GOD giving me an ounce of wisdom daily, for I truly feel that I am "GETTING IT", you know, understanding that the days are numbered. When we are young, we are not thinking about it! And wow, when I was young...always heard that, "SHE IS GOOD LOOKING"....and now, NOTHING! teeeeeheeeee....but on occasion if I see someone from WAY BACK WHEN, they do say, "Looking good"..as to to say, "YOU ARE HOLDING UP WELL!" Hey, at least I am still in one piece with all the parts held in place! LET US REJOICE for we shall soar....hey, not a bad deal, hey? WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE except this aging shell...it was fun, but there is more fun to come!
Just sayin'! BLESS YOU DEAREST, Anita
OK... way too much time looking for the "old woman" in the younger version, but I finally found it. Perhaps that says more about my age than I'd like!
peace`elaine
"that we may gain a heart of wisdom" - yes, sister, I can only hope I am "gaining on it."
Have a blessed day - Marsha
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