My mom scheduled me an appointment for an eye exam and I have been wearing corrective lenses ever since. My eyesight became increasingly worse over the next few years, which prompted me to switch from eyeglasses to contact lenses in high school. I was so self conscience in my extremely thick eyeglasses. It was before the time that lenses were shaved down. So, it was very hard for this {trying very hard not to be a nerd}nerd to walk around campus and look even halfway less nerdy with HUGE magnifying glasses attached to her face. Looking back, I’m sure it wasn’t that bad, but at thirteen I tended to blow everything out of proportion.
After college, I got tired of contacts and switched back to eyeglasses. They were just easier and since I always resorted to putting my glasses on at night after taking my contacts out or putting them on in the morning prior to putting my contacts in, it just seemed to me to be a lot less work to just wear my eyeglasses.
Yesterday was the first time in 15 years that I have been able to actually see my face in the mirror without glasses. Sure, I’ve been able to see the blurred version of me for the past 15 years but yesterday I was introduced, once again, to the 20/20 version of me.
My first thought?
Yikes! What happened?
Let me just say, that I have done a little bit of aging in last 15 years. I was shocked! I still feel like I am 23 years old. But the lines around my eyes tell a completely different story.
When I was in high school, I couldn’t wait to wear contact lenses because I didn’t like the way eyeglasses made me feel or look. I find it rather funny, that yesterday, I was half tempted to put my eyeglasses back on because I didn’t like the way contact lenses made me feel or look.
The next thought that came to mind (after the initial shock of seeing my unhidden face) was…
The next thought that went through my mind was the words that God spoke to Samuel while on his quest to find the next king.
“The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 NLT)
And the next thought was the verses in Matthew 6 about not worrying about what we eat or how we look…
“There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. (OR whether you choose to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses)…Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”
So, today, I rejoice over my exposed face. I woke up again today. I have the opportunity to live again today. Whether I choose to do it wearing contact lenses or eyeglasses…really doesn’t matter. It’s a non-issue. My Heavenly Father loves me…wrinkles and all!
Amen! Oh, you said each of these words so wonderfully! I loved them all and I hope you keep linking up with us! So good to have you!
I know the feeling sweet sister, I am 40 years old and I still call myself a girl, I can't bring myself to use the word woman. God loves us with all of our wrinkles an sagging parts.
I loved your post on needing Him as well, sometimes it is easy to overlook our need for Him when things are going well, your words of wisdom are always so sweet to read, glad to know you.
Great post.
I can relate to the glasses thing. I have been wearing glasses for 40+ years.
For me, the interesting thing has been to track the styles of glasses over the years, especially the 70s and 80s look.
I like the mini glasses that we all seem to be wearing in the '00s the best.
Good post..