Going Gray

Memories of my grandma are filled with a woman with beautiful silver white hair. I actually don't remember seeing many pictures of my grandma without this hair. My mom tells me that it's because gray hair runs in our family, both she and my grandma were completely gray by the age of 29. As I have gotten older, I have been excited to see that I made it to and past 29 without much gray hair.

However, this summer I gave birth to my second child, and haven't slept much since then (no, he's still not sleeping through the night). And in the last 8 months, the gray hairs on my head have increased exponentially. Ella has mentioned it, my mom has mentioned it, and my hair dresser on several occasions has said, "You know, it's probably time to start thinking about what you're going to do with your gray that's coming in." (and they are not the only ones) She's given me several suggestions on what I might do. Those who know me well know two things about me: 1. I am not so much into things that take a lot of maintenance, 2. I don't like to spend money. These two things have made me more than a little hesitant about dying my hair to cover the gray.

I've spent a lot of time over the last several months thinking about what I will do with my gray hair (Ella thinks that this year, my hair is going to turn all gray and I'll look "weird"). I must admit that I cringe when I think about the thought of being in my mid-thirties and almost entirely gray. But, I have finally come to the decision that I'm going to let my hair change naturally and not dye it (which my incredible husband is in total support of).

Why you might ask? For two reasons:

1. I have a 5 year old girl at my house. She is already very concerned with what she wears, how she accessorizes and can't wait until the day she can wear make up and high heels. I hope that my choice can teach her that who we are is about more than what we look like on the outside. That we do not need to make ourselves into something that we are not, it's okay to be the way that God made us, no matter what that looks like.

2. Much of my work is with young women at Trevecca. The world makes it their business to give them all kinds messages about what they should look like, what makes them significant, and what they should do with their bodies. I can be one voice in their lives that says that whatever they may look like, it's okay.

I am probably being idealistic, it's probably not that important. But, I feel led to take this step and be a different voice in the midst of all those calling from our culture. I wonder what my all-gray head will look like. Only time will tell.