Your Hair Becomes You... or Does It?

Most of the time when we hear something like the phrase, "your hair becomes you,"  we think of it as a flattering statement .  "That dress is becoming" "Your outfit is becoming."  What I'm talking about here is a tad-bit different.  I'm playing on the words, so to speak.   Does our hair define us?  Does our hair become who we are?  Should it?

This might come as a shock to some of you, and then again it might not be shocking but I've been highlighting and/or coloring my hair for many years. Having a hairdresser in the family for 30 years (not including the practicing she did on me before becoming licensed) made hair adventures really easy.  I've had every color you can think of. Every length and style possible.  Seriously, I don't even know the true color of my own hair.   I do know that it is truly a different color than it was 30 years ago when I started the coloring journey.  Hide a couple of gray hairs here today. Hide 20 of them five years from now and before you know it, the roots have you rushing to the salon every four weeks. 

I have a dear close friend who doesn't mince words. She is as honest as the day is long and a couple of years ago she walked right up to me before church and said, "your roots look awful, you need to do something." YES!  I knew that already. Thank you very much.  I love her dearly but that truly hurt my feelings.  I knew I was a couple of weeks late in getting to the salon but really!!!! I am quick to forgive so she need not worry that I haven't moved on. I really have and to be honest here, I am as equally honest with her. We keep an even score in the most kind and loving way. Seriously, we are wonderful friends. 

Deciding to not color my hair has been a process. Yes, I'm going to do it! No! I'm not going to do it! Yes I am, No I'm not. Off and on for several years.  Then a few weeks ago the tide began to turn.  I had a defining moment at the cardiologist's office of all places.  We were discussing  my cholesterol levels and he was very frank with me about my health.  We got a little off topic as we were talking and he said something to me that had absolutely nothing to do with my visit. Much to the contrary in fact, but it made quite an impression on me. We were talking about the natural aging process.  A subject that keeps coming up more and more in my life lately.    He said that women and men are so consumed with being younger than they are. They get plastic surgery and Botox and etc. etc. to make themselves look younger. They take medications to enhance their passion and prowess and it's making them sick.   There is nothing wrong with being 50 years old.  50 is great! What is wrong with 50?  God made you 50. You've already been 30.  It's time for someone else to be 30.  There is nothing wrong with  being healthy but be happy with the age you are and be a happy, healthy 50 year old and stop trying to keep up with someone that you see on TV. Someone that you think you are supposed to look like. What?  Is that what I've been doing, trying to be someone that I'm not? Me? Really?

After thinking on this for many days, I consulted with my best friend, (who is always up for "partner in crime adventures" and because there is safety in numbers) and proposed my latest adventure. She actually had proposed this to me a couple of years ago and I said to her in my most convincing voice, "friends don't let friends go gray!!!"  and she is IN! We are doing this together. We are no longer going to color our hair.  I personally am done with chasing roots to the hair salon.  So with my theme in mind for this year "Behold, I will do a new thing," I am embracing the new me, a more free me. A woman not bound by the color of my hair.  God gave me this hair for this time in my life and I'm going to embrace it.

Will you join us for this journey to freedom and liberation from colored and dyed hair? Are you fed up with the process of hair color as well?  If so, I would love to know and Sharon and I would love company on this roller coaster. Remember, there is safety is numbers!

I will be posting updated pictures as we go along this journey.  (Oh, by the way, Yes! Our husbands are totally on board and are giving their full support.)  Keep your eyes open for updates and changes.

I will leave you with this verse. Psalm 119:37  "Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things and give me life in your ways." ESV

My sweet friend Sharon and her husband James.

Me and my James

Until we meet again,  Fifi

Love Grows

I was singing in the choir as usual. This particular Sunday we were singing a song entitled  "Love Grew Where the Blood Fell."   We finished the song part of the service and the choir went down from the choir loft to sit with their families. My daughter Kristen, who was probably five or six years old, was sitting with her dad.  I have no idea why she wasn't in children's church this particular Sunday. She usually was. However, today she was tucked in under her dad's arm. Snuggled in close, she was drawing on the back of a church bulletin.  I sat down beside her and settled in for the message. I  gave her knee a gentle squeeze and smiled at her. As I looked down I noticed something very interesting about her drawing.  A simple box style cross with heart shapes dropping from the beams. Drops of blood in the shape of hearts.  "Love Grew Where the Blood Fell."  Simple childlike faith, drawn out on the back of a church bulletin.  I sat with tears in my eyes. You see, I just sang that song with no feeling. Just sang the words. It wasn't until I saw that my precious little girl had actually heard the words to the song that they began to mean something to me. Precious words falling on precious ears going straight to a precious heart. A precious drawing meant to speak to my heart as well. 

This video isn't of our choir but this is the same arrangement we did.

First Baptist Church-Jacksonville, Florida

Love Grew Where the Blood Fell

Until we meet again, Fifi