The Years of One's Life

So teach us to number our days,
that we may present to You
a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12

My friend, Joyce Parker, from Austin, TX had a cute saying on Face book today that says:

“I thought growing old would take longer.”

With being of the years I am at the present time, I got a chuckle out of that quote because without the humor, that quote is something I wish I had thought up first. As brief as it is, it is quite deep in profundity for those of us who have reached our senior years.

Not only are Brian and I retired, but we live in a small community that I would guess to be full of other retirees. There are also many folks in our area who have lived in these mountains for many years. I won't even mention all of the retirees who come here to spend months or who come for vacations often bringing grandchildren. We seem to be surrounded by age. Even the mountains seem to resound with great pride that they are much older than any of us and that is putting it mildly.

I'm just finishing teaching a ladies Bible study on Sunday evenings prior to the evening service. We've had a wonderful and convicting time looking at Peter's life and then on into the two epistles he wrote. Not being as young as I used to be, teaching is more wearying for me than in past years. As much as I love teaching, I must admit to looking forward to the end of this series even though I will miss our delightful group of ladies. The subject came up as to when WE are going to do this again. Upon checking with our assistant pastor that such a subject had come up, I made the comment, “Don't people know that I'm an old lady?” With his dry wit and rather sober look, he replied, “Hmmm, I wonder if God is aware of that.”

In our Bible study, I have encouraged the ladies in the group regarding our maturing process and how easy it is during “golden years” to forsake spiritual maturing. By now, me and many

of my ladies have been in more Bible study groups than we can count. We probably have notebooks from seminars and conferences on closet shelves and on bookcase shelves we have long ago forgotten about. Our heads are full of Bible facts that may have yet to dribble down to heart level. Spiritual maturity doesn't have a certain age attached to it. Knowing the Bible from cover to cover, book by book, fact by fact, doesn't necessarily change lives. The older we become, we can become spiritually lazy, forsaking the continuing growth in Christ that pleases Him.

I have known younger women in their 30's and 40's whose spiritual maturity has often put me to shame. I have seen their enthusiasm for the things of the Lord that results from their avid learning as much about His Word as possible. They then prayerfully apply those things in their every day lives. At the same time, I've also seen Christian women in their 60's and older who go through all of the spiritual routines they should, but have given up serving the Lord or putting the things of God into every day practice. They say, “Let the younger women do it now...I put in my time.” I have found nothing approving in Scripture of that attitude.

Through the years, I have had friends go on to Heaven at young ages. In many cases, I have to say that many of them seemed to cram more into their briefer years than many seem to live out in their golden years. I recently saw a quote from Abraham Lincoln:

“In the end, it's not the years in your life that count,
it's the life in your years.”

Despite our ages, are we living our years to the fullest? Some, while a young mom may not be able to be out and about doing what others do who don't have the ties of home. However, for now, God has a ministry for that young mom. Even women in the middle of a mid-life crisis doesn't have a pass from growing and serving. There are still things to be done for others and for the Lord. I know women who feel put on a shelf right now because of various health situations. Even on that shelf, God is there and still can bring others our way who need to see Jesus in their lives. God never wastes a thing...not a moment or crumb of our lives. No matter the age or situation, our years are to be full of life in Christ.

By the way, my friend Joyce I mentioned in the beginning is one of those ladies who retired after working as a nurse in an Austin hospital for years. If anyone deserved retiring to a rocking chair, she would be one of those people. For her, it was the beginning of serving the Lord as intently as anyone I know. She's been in the church choir for years, works with the International ladies program at her church, been involved in the ladies ministry and is one of those folks that can be called on when needs arise. Even though she's been in the hospital now for some time with a bone infection, Joyce still ministers with her sweet, Godly spirit as she reaches out from a hospital bed through her computer and people contacts where she is. As can be for any of us, God can use us no matter where we are or the conditions we face.

The key for any of us no matter the age is to find our strength in God and His Word. We can rely on the Holy Spirit to teach us and direct us as well to live and learn as we should. Keep in mind that I'm not just talking about busy-ness. Lots of women are busy, but who aren't really living life that benefits themselves or others. The things that count are the things that we do as unto the Lord. For some, those activities may be in the home while for others, serving others in a multitude of other areas are their callings. The key is living to our fullest in relationship with the Lord, growing in Him while serving Him right where He puts us. He will make His plans clear. Meanwhile, we are to serve Him well and thus, live life year by year to its fullest.

One of my prayers from Psalm 71:18 is:

And even when I am old and gray,
O God, do not forsake me, until
I declare Your strength to this generation,
Your power to all who are to come.

AMEN and AMEN