Distinguished Vs. Distorted

Me, 57-year-old Pink Collar Coach - Undistorted with a little smidge of gray hair and a smudge of lipstick. Daddy's Distinguished Daughter.

ds (dilemmas) =  distorted

Ds= Distinguished

Scriptures: Proverbs 16:31, Isaiah 46:4

Sharing Authentically

As I’ve re-engaged with social media, and taken a class on using Instagram effectively, the impact of authentic engagement consistently comes through. Then,  a few weeks ago, I heard on Christian radio that our character is who we are, and our reputation is who people think we are. While Instagram offers options to filter appearance and the pictures we post, we can’t filter character.

Scripture

An interaction with a dear friend recently got me thinking about aging graciously, which led me to search the Scriptures where I found two that discuss gray hair. Considering how the book of Proverbs proceeds Isaiah, it’s as if God returned to the topic to provide additional assurance on aging because He knew it would present a dilemma for us.

“Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.” – Proverbs 16:31.

“Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you, and I will carry you: I will sustain you, and I will rescue you.” – Isaiah 46:4

Spiritual Application

For context, “in the way of” means produced in a certain situation. This seems to suggest that gray hair is produced, not only as we grow older but as we grow more righteous. Because we attain it as we grow more righteous, gray hair is a crown of splendor, or brilliant beauty.

Contrary to this Biblical perspective, our culture and society often devalue aging graciously, which can make women feel less than beautiful. Like my sweet friend who referred to herself as “Probably vain” because she expressed dislike of a picture that she felt did not depict her at her best. I know this Swan Sister intimately, and she is SO not vain. Her sentiments reflect the pressure many of us feel to always appear our best. The tough truth is the way we look at our best as we grow older differs from what it did when we were young. We can talk about aging graciously, yet embracing our gray hairs (I obviously keep mine at bay!), our breaking down bodies, and our willful wrinkles is easier said than done.

Thankfully, God promises to sustain us throughout our aging.

Because He does this, though difficult, we can show up as our best selves – as aging but also authentic. I won’t pretend that I will let me hair go gray at this point (I dread looking like Cruella Devil/a skunk!), nor will I stop wearing makeup (though I am wearing less). Right now, at age 57,  I feel as though a little hair color, mascara, and lipstick enhance what God gave me without making me look as if I’m thirty years younger. And while I don’t judge other women who feel led to do so, it saddens me when women go beyond using a younger picture of themselves with using an AI enhanced image as if it’s them. These images distort. It’s almost like Christian catfishing…

Even sadder, posting things online that articulate Christian values but not aligning our lives and the way we act does not depict our true character – who we really are, just our reputation – who people think – or who we want them to think we are. Christian catfishing on a whole other level…

Something to Consider

All women age physically as we get older -- a natural part of life’s development and progression stages. Likewise, all Christ followers should grow more mature in righteousness. It’s not alright to stay young and immature in our faith.

Rather than posting distorted, inauthentic images of ourselves as younger, it seems our efforts would be better spent growing older and wiser in the ways of God and becoming distinguished as we grow in righteousness. We all want to look our best, but it’s so much better to become our best. God's best.

• How does viewing our gray hairs that we attain as we grow more righteous like marks of brilliant splendor make them/the aging process easier to accept?

• How does the assurance that He – our heavenly Daddy -- sustains us help?

• How does knowing you are God's daughter, and therefore, the older you get the more you look like your heavenly Daddy impact how you view aging?

Savvy & Chic Steps

Prompted by the interaction with the friend over her picture, during Faith Fit Small Group Coaching, I discussed aging graciously with a different Swan Sister -- one nearly 15 years my junior.  She stated that I looked beautiful with no makeup and asked if I’d considered letting my hair go gray. I quickly provided my Cruella Devil/skunk excuse, but less vehemently than ever before. Perhaps the Lord is leading me to rather look authentic than airbrushed. Distinguished vs. distorted.After all, gray hair is a splendor and crown of glory attained in the way of/produced as we grow more righteous. And He promises to sustain, carry, and rescue us – as He produces more gray hairs and righteousness in His daughters. As we grow older, we should look more like our heavenly Daddy every day.

That’s my saved, savvy and chic prayer for you. May you embrace aging graciously and growing in righteousness. May you be distinguished vs. distorted as you grow more mature in your  design and destiny as His daughter. And may we all eventually wear a Swan crown of splendor and brilliant beauty.

Be Pink Collar Savvy, Chic and blessed.