Jane stared at her distorted reflection in the mirror. The left side of her face still drooped. It wasn’t as bad as it had been in the hospital, but it was still noticeable. Between that and the weakness on her left side, the stroke had left her a fraction of the person she used to be. Sighing, she ran a comb through her hair and grabbed her cane and used it to maneuver into the kitchen, where Charles stood at the stove, making scrambled eggs.
“Good morning, beautiful. The coffee is ready.”
Jane moved to the cabinet and pulled out her favorite mug. “Thank you for making breakfast, but there’s no need to give me false compliments.”
Charles scooped the eggs onto two plates and turned to face her. “I don’t give false compliments. To me, you’re beautiful.”
Jane poured coffee into her mug and settled at the table. “I appreciate that, but I’m not the woman you married. I’ve gained weight, I have wrinkles, and now this.” She pointed to her face.
Charles placed the plates on the table and sat across from Jane. “Do you know what I see when I look at your face?”
Jane’ s gaze fell to the table. “I’m not sure I want to hear this. I know what I see.”
Charles lifted her chin with a finger. “I see the same bright, beautiful eyes that first caught my attention thirty years ago. I see all the laughter and love that has been there ever since. And if I happen to notice the slight droop, it reminds me that God saw fit to spare your life from the stroke, and I’m so grateful for that wonderful blessing.”
Jane blinked away the moisture gathering in her eyes. “You are the blessing. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
Charles pushed her plate toward her. “Eat before your eggs get cold.” His gaze fell upon her mug. “Why do you still use that old thing? Taylor got you those nice new mugs for Christmas.”
Jane cradled the mug in her hands. “I’ve had this mug since our honeymoon. It’s from Niagara Falls.”
Charles laughed. “Yes, but you wouldn’t know that anymore because the print is faded away. Plus, it’s permanently stained from the decades of coffee, and there’s a little chip on the one side.”
Jane took a deep drink and sighed. “The coffee tastes better from this mug. It’s the perfect size and it fits just right in my hands.”
Charles patted her hand. “I think you have your answer.”
Jane raised her eyebrows. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Charles pointed to the mug. “You love that mug because it’s familiar, comfortable, and represents special memories. You don’t care that it’s chipped, stained, or faded. Those things don’t matter because you can still enjoy your coffee the same way you have for 30 years.”
Jane set the mug down. “Somehow I don’t think we’re talking about a mug anymore.”
Charles shook his head. “You, my dear, may have a few imperfections on the outside, but you’re familiar, comfortable, represent special memories, and I enjoy your company even more now than I did thirty years ago.”
At that, the moisture in Jane’s eyes overflowed. Charles rose from the table and wrapped his arms around her. Her tears turned to laughter as she hugged her precious husband. “And now the eggs are getting cold.”
1 Samuel 16:7
Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
God, You created every part of us. You gave us the genes that dictate our appearance and the way we age, and we all age in different ways. Help us not be concerned with what we look like, God, but remind us we are beautiful in Your sight. You’re far more interested in our hearts than our outward appearance. External beauty fades, but internal beauty lasts forever. Help us be people who are loving and kind – beautiful on the inside. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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