Skip to main content

Well Preserved at Fifty


I laughed when I heard all the hoopla about Barbie turning 50. My daughters had a huge collection of the dolls when they were very young and memories flooded my mind of our living room filled with Barbie going to the beach, Barbie in evening gowns, and Barbie in casual shorts to name just a few. My husband teased about their collection telling me that our living room reminded him of a huge game of Twister with slender legs sticking up in all directions. It was their world and their dolls performed activities that their little imaginations created.


I was amused one day when I listened to the dialogue exchanged between my two girls and a friend’s daughter who was spending the night. The Barbie setting was Christian focused and the back drop was Sunday School Class. Lynda, our pretty pastor’s wife was in the cast as well as Elaine and Judy, both of them Sunday school teachers as well as moms and also good friends of mine in Women’s Ministry at our church. lt was so cute to hear these three “producers” direct their actresses with their make believe story.


I shared at Women’s Bible Study the impact Sunday School teachers had on my girls and how it affected their play time. I thought Lynda, Elaine & Judy would fall off their chairs they were laughing so hard. I wondered if they would ever live down the jokes we made of their new found fame as Barbie Dolls. Here’s the clincher: Lynda, Elaine & Judy were tall, slender, tan and had long, straight hair. They came from California and were true Valley girls converted to Jesus and served him with all their hearts.


It wasn’t long before our Women’s Ministry took a new turn, especially in our Bible studies. The gorgeous pastor’s wife, an excellent teacher and leader, targeted studies with themes that dealt with heart motives and less exterior image. We became women focused on purity rather than outer adornment. Our Lord became our producer and we were living out a new script!


I’ve since moved from that little town on the border of California and Arizona. What I wouldn’t give to see those real live Barbie dolls, umm….well past the age of 50!

Comments

  1. Kathleen March 10, 2009 at 5:27 AM

    Just think, Ken may not have aged quite so well!

    It took me such a long time to get the "inside" beauty thing. Externals were important for far too long. So it saddens me to watch our sex-saturated culture fuel it with far more tinder than Barbie.

    I hope they'll come out with a grey-haired Barbie, or an arthritis Barbie. I'd howl, and probably have to buy one.

    Kathleen

    ReplyDelete
  2. Laurie AnnMarch 10, 2009 at 9:43 AM

    What a great post! I love how the Lord directed their play time. Just precious.

    Thank you so very much for the encouragement you gave in your comment this morning. I love that verse from Jeremiah and wanted to say thanks for agreeing with me in prayer.

    ReplyDelete
  3. PistolmomMarch 10, 2009 at 10:07 PM

    www.freedoms-fight.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Memorial Day Reflection

  Memorial Day is always noteworthy for me and my girls.  Next Thursday marks the third year of missing their father, my husband. So many thoughts  run through my mind.  The journey of loss takes on various emotions.  The strongest feeling, at first, was emptiness.  In a split second, I would forget he departed forever.  I imagined things I needed to talk to him about when he got back home.  My mind is realistic now.  He's not coming back.  There will be no more times of sitting on the porch swing together on the front deck staring at the moon and the stars.  He would tell me all he knew about the majestic night sky. I have so much I wish I could tell him, like the excitement of seeing our oldest grandchild make a decision to follow Jesus and get baptized on Mother's Day!  And our little Amy, 11 years old, I wish he could have seen her on stage receiving her induction to the National Honor Society. Our daughters have their own ...
24 comments
Read more

I'm Going as Abigail This Year

I vote for more purses, toothbrushes, cups, storybooks, and Halloween costumes that feature Abigail of the Old Testament.  She is a heroin worthy to emulate, in my opinion, even more than Cinderella. Once upon a time, there was a kind woman by the name of Abigail who lived with a surly man who liked to drink a lot and have parties.  One time, King David and his army were very hungry and entered the surly man’s homestead and asked if they could come to his barbecue.  The king had a right to ask because he and his men protected the homestead’s boundary lines.  The surly man said “No.  Get off my property.”  The King had a temper and became offended. Surly drunk + spiteful King = War In the meantime, Abigail heard about the situation and spent hours baking cinnamon rolls for the King and his army.  She dismounted from her horse and presented the King with her peace offering.  She bowed low and greeted the King and asked his forgi...
39 comments
Read more

Summer Touches of Grace

Summer may be behind us now, but the memories are fresh and the lessons they taught me rest deep within my soul. Do grown daughters with busy lives of their own crave mother-daughter time?  I am so glad mine do!  Summer afforded me several one-on-one occasions with each of them. I forgot what a pretty city Tucson is although my oldest daughter didn’t enjoy the heat as much as me.  The resort’s pool made up for any discomfort! My youngest daughter is a power prayer warrior.  We strolled along the Coronado Beach at sunset praying for our family and friends.  I cherish times like these, just her and me….and God.  I am lavishly fulfilled when I think of the summer days with the daughter of my heart.  Thank you, friends, for your concern for Angie.  She made it through her surgery but complications sent her back to the hospital weeks later.    Chronic pain restricts this compassionate, ...
46 comments
Read more