The Tale of a Gray Hair
Email Article 
As a young girl growing up in a small country town, I went to school with the same boys from Kinder through High School. The cute little blonde haired boy who promised me he would marry me over a Smurf puzzle in our 1st grade classroom was once again my 7th grade crush who graced me with his super cool leather jacket. (The boys were on a rotation schedule and it was just his turn again.) Each summer before school started my little girl friends and I would pray for God to bring new boys to our town, as we had already “dated” them all! (If you’re from a small town, you understand I’m sure!)
At the young age of 15 clearly God heard my prayers and he uprooted an entire family from Dallas, Texas and planted them smack dab in the middle of the Ozark hills . . . Ava, Missouri’s population of 2,500 just sky-rocketed to 2,504 and rumor was one of our new residents was a 17 year old male! Can you say heart flutters and radars set on high sensory?
“New boy” was sought out, spotted, and perhaps even stalked by more girls than just myself, but I walked away the victorious winner and his affection was MINE. Fast forward 4 years – “new boy” and I are newlyweds living off Ramen noodles and love. Life was everything I ever dreamed it would be.
Our perfect little love fest was rocked on June 6, 1995 when a blood clot lodged in my brain stem and left me unable to walk or talk after a massive stroke. I remember lying in a hospital bed looking up at my young, handsome husband and asking God to give us more time. “God, please let us grow old and gray together.”
Fast forward 15 years - my husband and I sit on our back patio watching our 3 children play, I begin to notice gray hairs in my husband’s side burns. I think to myself, “Wow, my husband is getting old. Better him than me! I clearly handle stress better.”
Later that evening as I wash my face and apply my anti-wrinkle cream, a glistening hint of silver catches my eye. I lean in close to the mirror and there on top of my head are sprouting up four thick, wirey gray hairs. My first thought is, “pluck those suckers out! Quick somebody buy Mama some Clairol Nice N’ Easy hair color!” I begin to wonder how I can be that old, I don’t feel that old. Darn those kids for making Mama worry and get premature gray hairs!
Next thought . . . THANK YOU God for once again answering my prayers! I am growing old and gray with the man you brought into my life at the young age of 15. What more can I ask for? “New boy” and I are aging together and I’m loving every minute of it.
What blessings in your life are disguised as gray hairs, mountains of laundry and sleepless nights? May we slow down long enough to recognize they are perhaps the result of an answered prayer!
So, every gray hair truly does have a story and I’m growing found of all four of mine!
(To my family and friends – There’s no need to send me a year’s supply of Clairol’s Nice N’ Easy hair color – I’ve decided to be proud of my natural highlights!)
Reader Comments (7)
Awwww! That was a sweet post. I'm still trying to find out what the blessing is behind me losing those keys! LOL
You know, I too am one of those women who is proud of her age and refuses to color my gray hairs cause doggone it I've earned every one of them! I'm proud of being a wife, mother, and grandmother, and of the things I've accomplished, most of all my children. How refreshing to hear other women who feel the same way celebrate it by lifting each other up! Creating a loving home that nurtures my life with my husband and invites creativity in my children and grandchildren is something I will never be ashamed of. Thank you, Pamela for saying it out loud and giving me this forum!
Laura ~ Maybe loosing those keys brought you another sweet blessing of a gray hair! :) The blessing is always there, sometimes we just miss it.
Louisa ~ Whew, what an inspiration you are to all of us newly graying Mamas!
I do not think you know this but you stroke happened 2 weeks after my Dad's stroke. His was not in his brain stem but for a preacher to wake up one Sunday morning and not be able to talk, along with many other things, it was devastating to him and our family. I was fortunate enough that after many days in physical therapy he was able to walk me down the aisle when I married Adam.
Having lost my Dad 11 years ago, from other illness, I am so glad that you and Lonnie are going to enjoy your gray hairs together. I started going gray 13 years ago so I am not going as gracefully. But I do love being blonder now.
Genessa ~ I didn't know our families were going through such trials at the same time. I'm sure if your Daddy were here today he would tell you many blessings came from that trial. I pray you are blessed with many wonderful memories of him until you meet again! And I wonder if God will allow us to keep our "highlights" in Heaven? :)
How true if it was not for his stroke I would not have moved back to Ava and if I had moved back to Ava I would never have meet or married Adam and has the best 14 years of my life.