Give Me Laugh Lines and Wrinkles

Yesterday we spent some time thinking about aging and honoring the joys and sorrows of our journey towards old age. Our culture fights so hard against aging, trying to look young and flawless when, in fact, in God’s eyes it’s an honor to grow old.

Sit with these verses for a moment. As you age - regardless of what age you are - and as you think of others going before you who have aged well, what have been the keys to doing it well?

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,

    they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;

planted in the house of the Lord,

    they will flourish in the courts of our God.

They will still bear fruit in old age,

    they will stay fresh and green,

proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;

    he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.” - Psalm 92:12-15

Finally, close with a brief reflection on this poem as a chance to commit to aging with joy amidst the challenges. May it be a prayer for you today.

give me laugh lines and wrinkles

i want proof of the jokes we shared

engrave the lines into my face like

the roots of a tree that grow deeper

with each passing year

i want sunspots as souvenirs

for the beaches we laid on

i want to look like I was 

never afraid to let the world

take me by the hand

and show me what it’s made of

i want to leave this place knowing

i did something with my body

other than trying to 

make it look perfect

- Rupi Kaur