Little Orphan Annie’s Grandma
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30
I guess you will have to call me vain! By the time I was 28, my hair was turning white. I went through several different colors and styles, perms, curls, straight and everything in between. When I finally reached 50, I came to the conclusion that I could now have white hair. After half a century, I had earned it. Jeanette Levellie (Mornings with Jesus) has explained me very well (and probably several more people that we know).
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I combed through the stack of mail on the kitchen counter. A squishy, flat package piqued my interest. It was addressed to me, but I couldn’t imagine what was inside. I ripped it open and roared with laughter. My wig! Five months earlier, in the throes of debating whether to keep coloring my hair or let it go natural, I had (what seemed to me) the brilliant idea to order a wig. I reasoned that if I dislike how my white locks looked growing out, I could still pretend to have red hair. But the custom color had to be special ordered. Now that the fake hair arrived, I’d come to terms with my natural look.
I pulled it onto my head and gazed into the bathroom mirror. I laughed so loudly that my husband came running to make sure I was okay. I looked like Little Orphan Annie’s Grandmother.
“What was I thinking?” I said, as I caught my breath and put it back in the bag.
My white-headed reflection stared back at me as I fixed my hair. My laughter melted. Why had I ordered it? Was I afraid to grow older?
No matter what my age or my hair color, Jesus accepts and loves me. I don’t need to conceal my true self or pretend to be someone I am not. Whether I wear my natural hair or Little Orphan Annie’s grandma’s wig, Jesus sees my heart.
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Today, I am grateful for my beautiful untouched white hair. I am okay with who and what I am but it has taken a long time to get here.