OLD HEDGEHOGS ARE BEAUTIFUL 　
　

　


So, little Emily was sitting on my knee yesterday and we were sharing a tender moment that included I love you, smiles and kisses.

She took my face in her little 4 year old hands and said "Nana I love you but I do not like your hair cut short."

I was a bit surprised, but amused.

"So I should let my hair grow long again?" I asked the diva.

She smiled at me and said as she looked right into my eyes "yes, let it grow Nana, because you look like a ....a….ahhh, a hedgehog!"

Well this conversation has taken a turn now hasn't it!

I am looking at her because she is so cute and I am somehow so proud of her for being straight forward and talking so plainly to Nana.

For a moment I think this is good practice for us both as I see her standing before me at 11 with that hand on her hip that will likely be barely covered by a neon pink and purple mini shirt, flashy boots and hoop earrings just daring a Nana critique session.

I was brought back to reality by the tiny nose pressing on mine and the big brown eyes questioning my reaction to her constructive criticism.

I laughed and squeezed her to my heart and said "OK, Lady Jane,...I will let it grow some because I know you don't want your Nana looking like a hedgehog!"

Then, with the curly brown sea of hidden tangles tickling my face I whispered in her ear "Do you know what you look like?"

She giggled, not a bit worried.

I said "a pretty little Emily!"

She whispered "I know!" and hopped down and the moment had past into time, but not before I had determined that I will never cut my own hair again!!!

Later when Wayne came home, I was standing before the mirror trying to make my hair as nice as I could. He came in and we began to share our days incidents. We try to share the 'Kid" things of the day with each other so I quickly told him of the incident of Emily and the hedgehog.

I had not completed my dissertation before he interrupted me and said (and I am not kidding!)

"Well, isn't she smart to come up with that description because that is..."

His voice trailed off as he slowly stood upright from where he had been lounging on the door post.

Apparently He didn't like the expression on my face as I had whirled around to face him, still holding the hair spray, my mouth open in shocked surprise

  

"Well, ...Hon!...hedge hogs are cute, I mean it is cool that she would compare your hair to a hedgehog....I mean, ...ahhhh...I LIKE Hedgehogs!

I think they are Cute!!!..

Come on Char!”….he begged, fearing I know not what.

                 

He left the room, poor guy, but not before I assured him he was not in trouble.


I took another look in the mirror, looking for the animal I had heard so much about that day.

The musings of that time before the mirror went something like this…..

“So, its a little spiky..”

."Why did I cut my beautiful long hair?"

I recalled the incident.

Tuesday was very hot and humid. I was tired. I had come in from working in the yard and saw this old sweaty lady with long straggly hair looking back at me from the mirror, and I just had to do something.

I saw the scissors, (which I have since taken out of the bathroom and hidden in a safe place) and I cut my hair.

Simple...well, not really.

I cut, then had to trim for that to match that. Then trim again because that didn‘t match that.

Well, that's how it was.

But now as I stood looking for the hedgehog, I see an old lady with a cute spiky haircut.

More than that...I see myself, amused at the work of God in my heart that is allowing me to stand there, my feelings not a bit hurt, my sense of humor aroused, still in love with and loving my husband who agrees with a 4 year old about my hair.

How could this transformation have taken place? What had happened to the woman who was so insecure for so many years that she would have at this point, believed she really did look like a hedgehog, Why wasn’t I in tears and on the downward spiral to a depressive session?

I suddenly realized; the difference is Grace.

I am seeing Grace.
 An acceptance for who I am.
  Thankfulness for life.
  In living long I am aging into Grace.
 It comes from knowing I am loved unconditionally. It comes from knowing I am formed and created in love.

I smiled in amusement.

I had absolutely until this time hated the aging process.

Youth is recommended by its strength and beauty.
I know I squandered my youth, not accepting that I had beauty.

Old age is recommended by its humility and Grace.
Last night I began to give up hating the aging process.

Right there, looking into that mirror, I choose not to squander these years as well.
  I am what I am. I look like I look.

Why should I dishonor the Creator by complaining about, and spending time bemoaning His choice of packaging for me.

I felt a peace come over my heart.

I pushed back a swatch of hair that the spray missed, and in doing so I saw things I never saw before…the curve of my cheek bone… and it was beautiful, the glint of happy tears in my green eyes and that too was beautiful.

And I decided ………………..

Old hedgehogs are beautiful.

Charlene Eagles Richmond