The Lines of Life (by Cathe Laurie)

“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come” (Proverbs 31:25 ESV).

Our Face Tells a Story

The lines on my face tell a story.

Like lines of a book or excerpts from a diary, each detail on my skin shares a part of who I am, a glimpse into a life well lived.

Small freckles and spots on my face and hands whisper of joyful beach days, summertime picnics, and play days—endless hours I let the sun kiss my skin until it left its mark.

Crinkles around my eyes remember each laugh that made my heart sing, each joke my friends and family told, each smile that came from my soul.

Creases on my forehead hold my love for the people in my life—the worry I’ve carried for them, the prayers I’ve prayed for them in the middle of the night.

Tiny lines around my lips bring back the taste of iced lattes and summer teas, enjoyed in plenty through those now-forbidden plastic straws.

I’ve lived a life—a full life—and these lines tell the tale.

From worrying, celebrating, praying, laughing, and mourning . . . these lines tell me I didn’t just exist; I showed up.

Are they my favorite feature? Now, let’s not get crazy. If there were a magical cream that could erase them without making me look like a wax figure, would I use it? Maybe. But if the price of a wrinkle-free face is erasing the full, messy, chaotic, joyful life that made them? Well, no deal. I have experienced the vast realm of human emotion and experience, and each “imperfection” proves it.

So no, I won’t blur them out with filters or airbrush them away. They’re my story—evidence that I’ve lived a real, flawed, and deeply human life. Proof that I’ve made it through obstacles, fought my way through the valley, and gotten to experience the expansive and awe-inspiring views at the top of the mountain. A testament that I existed on this earth on purpose, and I’m still not done.

Proverbs 31:25 says it best: “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come” (ESV). I like that “laugh”—a soft, defiant chuckle at whatever’s next. Some versions say “smile,” but I’m a laugher.

Each line and spot on my face reminds me of my strength, each moment that God’s brought me through. Each new tiny crease is an added level of faith, patience, perseverance, and intentional love. They’ve grown over the years, and that’s a beautiful thing—it means I’ve grown, too. And when I look back on my life as I stare in the mirror, I don’t want to see perfect; I want to see perfected. Perfected through the Lord, as I live in His plan.

So as much as I love a little touch-up (let’s not pretend I’m completely above vanity), let’s not erase the lines. I’ve earned them, and I’d like to keep them, thank you very much.

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Cathe Laurie is the founder and director of the Virtue women’s ministry. She is also a featured speaker on The Virtue Podcast, at Harvest events, and the author of As I See It. You can find her weekly articles here on harvest.org.