Manry Family

Seven years ago I made a major life decision. I followed the trends of fashion and began highlighting my dull, dark hair. It sounded exciting and trendy – a new change for a newly married woman. And it was! I loved it, especially after I had my children. I looked forward to the days at the salon where all I did for two hours was sit in a chair and watch someone bleach away my dark roots. But I don’t think someone took the time to warn me about highlights. In reality it’s a trap with no way out! An expensive trap, to say the least. I don’t even want to know how much its cost me over the past years to fulfill this act of beauty. However, somehow I always left the salon feeling satisfied and justified in spending the money. It’s the four weeks after each appointment that I would begin to question its value. The shine is gone, the highlights have become less noticeable, while the growing roots have become increasingly obvious, which forces you to continue the cycle. But none the less I continued. Because the truth of it is, even though I felt trapped, I still liked the results (at least most of the time!).

But today I announce that I’ve ended the cycle. This week I walked into a salon and asked for my dark hair back. Oh, the sacrifices of becoming a missionary! Walking away from highlights isn’t easy. There was great commitment and investment in that blonde hair. And in just a few hours (and another hundred dollars later) there is no evidence, other than past pictures, that it even existed. Even though I grieve the loss, I embrace the new change. The best part is, I look like I belong with my family now! And the scary reality is, this shallow sacrifice is nothing compared to what I will be experiencing soon.

May I find joy and meaning in the real sacrifices to come…