grey hairs

I'll never forget the moment I discovered my first grey hair.  I was a senior in college, I was in my white Acura Integra stopped at the light by Lake Hollingsworth in Lakeland, Florida.  My hair was pulled back and I noticed this glinting strand near my right ear as I looked at my reflection in the rear-view mirror.  I pulled the mirror closer to get a better look and sure enough, there was my first grey hair...at 20 years old!

"20?! That's too young for a grey hair!" I was more amused than anything else.  I allowed myself a few moments to marvel at that grey hair that stood for so many things.  I had no doubt in my mind what had caused the grey, just a week prior I was not so care-free as the university I was attending let me know that my student loan company had decided to not renew my loan for this, my last year of school.  I frantically called my parents to try and solve this puzzle that had been dropped in my life.  Neither of my parents had the funding, my Mom called the school's financial aid office to see what could be done (if anything) but alas, nothing could be done.  Later that week, a sweet woman in the financial aid office found another loan for me to take out at a higher rate but it meant that I could stay in school and graduate!

I remember the feeling of panic, knowing there was no one I could turn to for financial help.  I had just moved into my first apartment off campus with a friend who was depending on my rent.  I had also just started my first week of training at my new job.  Everything was falling in place....why would God allow this? I remember the sobs, the long phone calls with my Mom and my pastors who agreed with me in prayer that God would make a way.  Desperation has its merits and sometimes it takes everything to fall apart to find that God is truly the only One in control.  He had a plan all along but it took me having no other option to trust Him.

Six years later, I am in my Master's program (something I never thought I would do) and I have many many grey hairs but I will never forget the discovery of that first one.  I will never forget the stress, the feeling of urgency and helplessness, and then the sudden peace that washed over me as I allowed myself to let go of the reins and let my Creator manage my life.  I know that no matter what comes, there will always be a way where there seems to be no way, and to just lean back and breathe a prayer to the Author and Finisher of my faith, "Ok God, I surrender, You can take it from here."  Whatever tasks or trials, obstacles or challenges, I hope that this story is an encouragement to you and a reminder that He is Faithful.