Patina

As I walked across an old bridge the other day, I noticed the paint was peeling, moss was clinging to the sides and dirt had gently dusted the worn groves. The first word to come to mind was patina - a surface appearance of something grown beautiful with age or use. The bridge held it's own unique beauty and I wondered at the stories it could tell.

Patina has come to hold meaning for me, as I just had surgery yesterday on my face for skin cancer. I will have about a two inch scar in the middle of my forehead and yet I have felt strangely peaceful about the scar. For one, I have been so grateful for a husband that tells me I'm beautiful regardless of the scars and wrinkles that have come with the passage of time. More importantly, I'm reminded that our true beauty isn't found in our skin, but rather who Christ created us to be. I'm praying that as I live my life and hopefully - prayerfully - grow into who Christ longs for me to be, that indeed a patina will be seen. A patina that tells a beautiful story pointing to our beautiful Christ.