Stretchmarks and wrinkles

Just thinking about my stretch marks. They are so incredibly and beautifully made. 

My stretchmarks allowed my babies room to grow. It allowed them to thrive in the womb. To develop into a beautiful and healthy baby. My skin stretched to it's limit. Yet, in contrast to any other material, it never burst. It continued to stretch to make room for the amazing beings that were growing inside, leaving in it's wake, a roadmap of the journey in which I was about to embark. 

I jokingly attribute my gray hair and wrinkles to the raising of those two babies. In actuality, it is not far from the truth.

You see my wrinkles are merely stretchmarks. Stretchmarks from allowing my children to grow outside the womb. The frowns and cries, the smiles and cheers, stretch my face leaving it looking wrinkled and used. My own experiences and celebrations. So many ups and downs through the years have created the lifelines in my cheeks and around my eyes. 

My gray hair coincidentally appears at a rate similar to the crevices and valleys in my face.   I imagine my skin is stitched with the strong, thick, silver strands.  As the years pass, those strands pull and grow, at the same time unraveling my face, leaving behind, the wrinkles that are increasing in depth and length. 

I no longer pull the grays. They are the ropes I climbed to get through the hard times. 

Each glimpse in the mirror is a reflection of all that I have been through. The wrinkles a reminder of the growth I've endured throughout my life. Watching and allowing my children to grow into amazing adults. At the same time, stretching my own limits, growing within myself. Experiencing my own, personal challenges internally, and within my marriage and other relationships.  Becoming more the person that He wants me to be. 

Yall, but seriously...Life is filled with so many ups and downs. We were created in such a way that though we may feel, at times, that we might burst with sadness. Or pride,. Or happiness. Or anger. We never do. 

 Allow yourself to feel those emotions. You will not burst. You will grow. You will stretch. And yes, you may end up with a few extra gray hairs and wrinkles. But when you look in the mirror, remember the ride that you took to get through each valley, and to climb each rope. 

Celebrate the wrinkles, and grays and stretchmarks. They are what is creating the YOU, you are meant to be.

"I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works., And my soul knows it very well." Psalm 139:14