Little White Hairs

We all go through changes in our lives, some noticeable, others not so much. Recently I've noticed a change in my life. As I reflected upon it, I came to realize it transcends the physical appearance of little white hairs.

This photo shows me after a week of abstinence from the razor. Not very impressive, I know, but notice the chin area. This is certainly one of the motivators that helps me keep my face smooth. Ruggedly smooth, of course. Anyway, I can't really grow facial hair and when I do now it comes out white, which is not my natural hair color.

Although related, these are not the little white hairs of which I write. No, the hairs I noticed that caused me to reflect upon the change in my life come from a little brown and white Jack Russell Terrier that now shares our home.

It happened one day last week as I was sitting in a training class and looked down at my black fleece jacket. It had little white hairs on the front of it. I tried to brush and pick a few off but then I thought, 'aw, fuggetaboutit' because I'm a dog owner again. And with that subtle thought manifests the change in my life.

I used to care about little things like dog hairs on my coat, or my couch, or the floor, etc. I used to be controlling and restrictive, protective of the hygenic sanctity of my house. But just like parents with second and subsequent children, the protectiveness gets old when you realize no matter how controlling you are, kids will get hurt sometimes. I realized that things will have little white hairs on them and I can't stop that.

My thought is that it boils down to love. The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13 that love is patient, love is kind...it does not insist on its own way. Although she's only been in our house a relatively short time, Allie has become part of the family, and I love her. Because of that I choose to put up with her quirks, her transgressions (although I wish they would've happened on the tile and not the carpet), and her little white hairs everywhere. She's a dog, and I can do things to modify her behavior, but not her personality or instincts. I accept my lack of control and choose to love her by not insisting on having my way.

Perhaps the little white hairs on my chin are part of the new normal in my life. In fact, I know they are. As I have aged and matured, (for the two are not always equated), I have grown to realize that all of our relationships should be governed by the rule of love. Those things that were once annoyances, such as hairs everywhere, can be seen as sharing our lives in love. I really don't want to shed on you or vice versa, but when it happens unintentionally it shows that we have a relationship that is close enough that a part of us is left with the other long after our last contact. When we notice these pieces of each other in our lives it is then our choice to either brush them off or accept them with love as the gifts they are.