Aging Gracefully, Not Grudgingly – My Take On Anger, Health, And Beauty
Updated: Nov 5, 2024
Written by Barbara Powell Love, Blogger
Barbara Powell Love is currently the Office Manager for a small medical practice. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree concentrating in Business Development.
During our Sister Prayer Call, we discussed anger and how it affects us. Some of us feel that sometimes, we have to give people a piece of our mind when they wrong us or disrespect us. We must get it off our chest. While some agreed, others had other thoughts on the subject, and I found myself listening intently. After some thought, I decided to share my view, so here is my take.
Scripture: “Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.” – Ecclesiastes 7:9 (NIV)
Anger: The anti-beauty emotion
Holding onto anger can do a number on our health and beauty, and for me, that’s reason enough to think twice about it. The moment we start holding onto frustration, our bodies go into stress mode, pumping out cortisol and adrenaline. Sure, these hormones are great in small doses, like in a real emergency, but long-term? That’s when they start to affect things we care about, like our skin, our immune system, and even our heart. When cortisol sticks around, it can lead to breakouts, dull skin, hair loss, and a weary, exhausted look — no concealer in the world can cover that!
On top of that, stress from anger has been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, and a weakened immune system. Imagine dealing with all of that because we let someone’s careless comment stick with us. Honestly, there are some times that it’s our own perception of what someone says that pushes our buttons.
My mom’s wisdom: “God’s got this”
Growing up, my mother had her own wisdom on anger. She used to say, “There’s no need to get back at that person or to ‘tell them off’ — God’s going to get them.” This was her interpretation of the verse, “Vengeance is mine, says the Lord.” She understood that while we may want to address the person directly, it’s often better for us to take a step back. When we give them a piece of our mind, we end up with less peace in our own lives. And, as she said, if we keep doing that, we’ll run out of “mind” entirely! We don’t always have to have the last word.
Forgiveness: For our sake, not theirs
Now, this is just my take on forgiveness, and it doesn’t cancel anyone else’s perspective. But I believe that forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves. It doesn’t make what someone did or said okay. It simply means we’re not willing to carry that anger around, paying for their words or actions with our own peace. Sometimes that means keeping distance and setting boundaries. We can exclude people who disrupt our well-being, letting them go their way while we keep our peace.
Grace to let go
I get it; some hurts feel impossible to forgive. But that’s where grace comes in. God’s grace allows us to forgive even when it feels impossible. It doesn’t erase the hurt, but it helps us move on. And while I might not always feel like forgiving, I’d rather lean on grace than keep adding stress to my own life. If anything, ignoring them completely lets them know that they are simply not important enough to disturb my peace.
Aging gracefully through peace
Ultimately, forgiveness is like the ultimate beauty product. When we let go, our stress levels drop, our hearts heal, and maybe we end up with a few less frown lines! Peace is a beauty treatment that no amount of concealer or highlighter can achieve. So, the next time someone wrongs me, I’ll choose grace, knowing that God’s got it covered. I’ll hold onto my peace, my beauty, and my health — and let God handle the rest.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for Your grace and wisdom that helps me to forgive, even when it feels impossible. Please guide me in letting go of anger and filling my heart with peace, joy, and understanding. May Your love shine through me, healing any hurt and releasing me from resentment. Teach me to live in peace with others, so I can remain strong, beautiful, and free in both spirit and body. Amen.
Barbara Powell Love, Blogger
Barbara Powell Love is currently the Office Manager for a small medical practice. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree concentrating in Business Development. Barbara is also the owner of Beebe Love's Beauty @www.beebelove.com, a blogging website to promote beauty, motivate, inform, provide mental stimulation, educate, inspire and encourage other women over 50 to embrace their inner beauty and pursue their dreams. Her blog focuses on personal development, leadership, and lifestyle. She encourages women to become Seasoned Beauties instead of becoming Senior Citizens.
