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Aging with Purpose: Discovering the Beauty of God’s Plan

Cheryl Wilson, Abstract Christian Artist

“Aging with Grace: Unveiling the Beauty Within”

I recently was talking to a young mother of 35 years.  She confided in me that she no longer felt pretty as she was aging.  I understood her emotions as I had just gone through this at 65 and even did a Series of Art called “Torn” to share my emotional journey.

artwork by: Adelia Wilson

As I sat and listened to this young mother’s heartfelt words, my heart swelled with empathy. The struggle with self-image and feeling beautiful is one that many women, regardless of age, face at various points in their lives. It’s a battle that can wage war on our hearts and minds, leaving us feeling defeated and discouraged and even spiral to a point of deep discouragement.

But as a woman of faith, I’ve come to understand that true beauty goes far beyond what the eye can see. It’s rooted in something much deeper and more profound than outward appearances. It’s a beauty that radiates from within, a beauty that is found in the very essence of who we are as daughters of the King.  I truly believe this inner beauty shows on the outside for others to see.

In the Bible, we are reminded time and time again of the value and worth that God places on each and every one of us. Psalm 139:14 tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, crafted with care and precision by the hands of our Creator. And in 1 Peter 3:3-4, we are encouraged to focus not on external adornment, but on the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight again I feel a beauty that is seen by others.

As I shared these truths with this precious young mother, I could see a glimmer of hope begin to spark in her eyes. She began to understand that her worth was not determined by the wrinkles on her face or the number on the scale, but by the unconditional love and acceptance of her Heavenly Father.

My own journey of self-acceptance and embracing my true beauty was not an easy one as I spoke to in my “Torn” series, but it was a journey that drew me closer to God and deepened my faith in His love for me. My journey lead me to believe that God still had a wonderful plan for me. And as I walked alongside this young mother, I was reminded once again of the power of God’s grace to transform our hearts and renew our minds.

So to all the women out there who may be struggling with feeling beautiful as they age, I want to remind you of this: You are fearfully and wonderfully made, beloved daughter of the King. Your beauty is not defined by the standards of this world, but by the love and grace of your Heavenly Father. Embrace the beauty that He has given you, and let it shine bright for all the world to see.

As we continued our conversation, I felt compelled to share with the young mother that while aging may bring physical changes, it doesn’t diminish the beauty that resides within her. In fact, I reminded her that as she grows older, her beauty takes on new dimensions – a beauty that is marked by wisdom, grace, and the richness of life experiences.

I encouraged her to see herself through the lens of God’s love, knowing that in His eyes, she is still as beautiful as ever. I reminded her that true beauty is not found in the absence of wrinkles or blemishes, but in the depth of her character and the kindness of her heart.  I have seen her with her children and husband and the deep selfish love she shows.  This is the true beauty.

I urged the young mother to embrace this season of her life with confidence and grace, knowing that her beauty is not defined by society’s standards, but by the love of her Heavenly Father. The warrior that she is, that belief that even as a “girl” she has incredible abilities to change the world with her art she paints. This energy she has always had is still there but perhaps directed in a different way.

 As we age, we carry into our next season such wisdom from the path we walked with God and each soul has such a story to tell.  I feel as she walks with her head held high, like a warrior woman, I know that she will see a beauty that was truly timeless – a beauty that could never fade with age, a true woman of God.

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Cheryl Wilson, Abstract Christian Artist

I paint intuitively by embracing spontaneity to allow passionate paintings to be born through a transforming layering process of acrylics and inks. Each layer informs the next story of paint. In addition to layers often you will find sand, coffee, glass beads or perhaps even a gum wrapper invoking the question of what story is being revealed. I paint what I feel, how I feel, and each found object in my art continues that story. It is my hope that you find a connection to my work and might, if only for a moment, become captivated and feel something within yourself. The art I create are visual expressions of my inner soul, spirit and passion. Once a corporate entrepreneur trapped inside a suit and wearing heels, the desire to put my feelings, thoughts, and emotions on canvas became too powerful. The life-changing event that turned the corporate pen into a paintbrush was the dark world of Alzheimer’s that struck my mother. I could not wait any longer to paint in the event that world captured me as well. Leaving the boardroom behind, what has emerged is a new language expressed on canvas. This language expresses the freedom and unbound passion to create and let my art direct itself without fear or influences that has previously stifled my intuitive style. Constantly moving around the world, staying in one place no longer than three years at one time, living in the back of a musician’s studio, provided the opportunity to meet vast numbers of different people from all walks of life. These experiences set the canvas for the style of abstracts I paint because I find these people, locations, and experiences are represented in each painting in some way.

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