Everyone sat in folding chairs placed in a circle around the room. I was nervously biting my nails, hoping that no one would notice the "newcomer" in their midst. The leader of the group, a middle-aged woman with shockingly red hair cropped closely to her head, waited for the clock to strike 7 exactly before she started speaking. I stared at the clock whilst trying not to notice the polite yet obvious stares directed towards me. Finally, the minute hand reached the 12.
"Welcome tonight, and thanks for coming." she said. There were many uttered "hellos" in response. I was silent. "I'm Judy, and I've been a LONG time member." Lots of chuckles from the group at this comment. "Caroline, why don't you start us off."
Oh great. Caroline just HAPPENED to be seated right next to me. As if that wasn't planned by the now sinister-looking 'Judy'. Caroline went into telling her story. Everyone clapped afterwards, and she received a hug from the woman next to her.
That's when I could feel Judy's eyes upon me. She gave me an encouraging smile and said, "Everyone, we have a new attendee here tonight. Why don't we all welcome Patsy to the group." (I had cleverly used a fake name.)
"Hi, Patsy." they all said.
It was obviously my turn now. I took a deep breath, gave one of those clear-your-throat-even-though-there's-nothing-in-your-throat coughs, and stated, "Hi. Yeah, my name's Patsy, as you can see from my name tag. And...well...this is pretty difficult for me to say."
Judy, ever the sweetheart, gently said, "It's okay, Patsy. We all understand." Wow. She's good.
"Yeah, okay. Ummm...My name is Patsy, and...*sigh* I have gray hair."
☺ No, I didn't really attend a meeting, but yes, I am going gray. Phew, it feels good to say that! I noticed my first gray on my 25th birthday. I was styling my hair when I saw it--a lone white strand sticking straight up on the top of my head. I pucked it out immediately, but I knew that I was only prolonging the inevitable; the white hair would grow back. Since then I have been on a never-ending search for those elusive white hairs. And they just keep coming! Why is it that when I wash my hair or blow-dry it every day I lose many strands of hair but not a single one of them is white?? Those stinkers must have suction cups attached to their roots! I am now contemplating whether I should start dying my hair again. What do you think?
Last week I did a quick study on gray hair in the Bible, and I will leave you with some verses from the Scripture: Proverbs 20:29b says, "...the splendor of old men is gray hair." Glad to see that's only for old MEN. ;-) "Gray hair is like a crown of glory, it is attained in the path of righteousness." {Proverbs 16:31} And lastly, from Isaiah 46:4 God says, "Even when you are old, I will take care of you, even when you have gray hair, I will carry you."
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