Mirror Mirror On The Wall

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”  2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

 

 

 

 

It happened yesterday.

 

It happened today.

 

It’ll happen tomorrow.

 

I’m sorry, I have to confess, I am not being a good Christian about it all.

 

I know I’m playing right into the enemy’s hand over it.

 

But I’m human.

 

Forgive me.

Show some grace.

 

One more look in the mirror and I’m about ready to spray-paint that glass a deep black.

 

It’s there when I brush my teeth in the morning and again before bed and a few times in-between.

 

My image.

Not quite the face I want to see anymore.

 

When did it happen?

When did the taunt skin of a 20 year old become replaced with uneven, saggy, “stuff”?

 

When did perky eyes get surrounded by feet of flying predators?

When did the lines get so deep you could lose a small car in them?

 

Ugh!!

 

Now I’m doing it—almost daily–like I used to watch the older ladies do it.

I lean forward toward my reflection and pull the ol’ face skin backwards and upwards. It looks so much better that way—I have to confess.

But the downside—I have to pull so hard now my eyelids are stretched backwards and then I can’t see.

Blind or taunt skin?—hmmmm, a toss up.

Always a draw back to things, isn’t there?

 

And here’s the part where I tell you, and myself, that God thinks we’re beautiful.

(Which He does)

Here’s the part where I tell us our mother’s and fathers love us, wrinkles and all.

(Which they do)

Here’s the part where I talk about beauty being only skin deep.

(Which it is)

 

 

And here’s where I need forgiveness and grace.

(And I’m wondering if you do too?)

 

I don’t want to hear any of that!

 

It doesn’t help in the moment!

 

I’m not thinking any of those things when I’m trying to figure out a way to get a pound of putty on my face to look decent.

 

I’m just missing my youthful, perfect skin!

 

 

There I said it!     A Christian woman who struggles with an earthly issue.

 

Send me to the gallows.

 

Anyone joining me?

 

I can’t throw stones about self-centeredness.

I’m right there with you.

We’re human.

God made us that way.

 

But just when I’m walking the long lonely mile about all of this self stuff, I feel a twinge. He adds a little question to my soul.

 

“Do you really want Me to turn back the clock?   Would that be your heart’s desire?”

 

Who could blame a girl for wanting to say “yes?”

 

But then a Psalm pierces my heart.

 

“Remember not the sins of my youth

and my rebellious ways;

according to your love

remember me,

for you are good, O Lord.”

Psalm 25:7

And there it is.

 

I look longingly on my youth for all it implied of my appearance.

God looks longingly on my now, for all it implies of my soul.

 

 

And then the promise follows.

 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

From a God who says He understands my worldly ways.

From a God who understands I will make it about me.

From a God who understands that a mirror can do so much damage to a woman’s soul.

 

He gives me comfort.

 

And I realize,

I may not like what I see in the mirror, but I love the One who is in my heart.

 

Facing the mirror is a daily onslaught.

I’ll admit, there will be many more times of self-loathing.   I know me.

Maybe you know you.

When we get in that mode, let’s pull back the jowls and lift up the eyes and dream for a second or two. Then, after it all slings back into place, let’s be children who beg the Father to keep us from returning to our youth, and to remember us in love for our future.  That should be our heart’s desire.