Aging Ain't Easy

I will go in the strength of the Lord God:
I will make mention of thy righteousness,
even of thine only.
O God, thou hast taught me from my youth:
and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.
Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O
God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy
strength unto this generation, and thy power
to every one that is to come.
Psalm 71:16-18

My grandmother (Mother's mother) from the time I was very young worked as a live in housekeeper for a working couple in my hometown. I loved when we would go out for Mam on Saturdays to bring her to our house to stay until Sunday evening. I loved going out to that lovely home that sat on property with lots of trees. What time I had, I loved running through that yard. My grandmother did all of the housekeeping, cooking, laundry and whatever else had to be done in the house itself. The thing that bothered me was after asking my Mother how old my grandmother was, I recall her saying that my grandmother was somewhere in her 50's. I recall being mortified at that news. I often wondered to myself, “What is an old lady like that doing all that work? She could die.” I smile now as I think of someone in their 50's too old to do much of anything and yet that's how children would view people of age.

I don't think when a little kid that I knew too many really old people. In my church, there was the Loyal Mother's Sunday school class. Let me tell you, as a junior girl, those women were old...not just old...but O-L-D old. Most wore hats to church, carried big purses and Bibles, wore laced dress shoes, always glasses and smelled of either Sweetheart, Palmolive or Life Boy soap. They always smelled good. Most of them carried candy in their purses and that was an advantage of knowing those of their age as far as I was concerned. Most of those ladies were in their 70's and some early 80's. I wondered at times how they were even breathing because they were very O-L-D.

However, times have changed. “People of age” don't seem to look all that old to me anymore. I look in the mirror and see a woman in her 70's. I don't wear hats to church or shoes with laces unless at times I wear my Sketchers for a more informal time. I don't carry candy in my purse except for myself. I don't use any of those soaps. I think they have to be ordered from specialty places now. What I'm wondering at this point is how did I get to where I am right now. I have three doctors I see on a pretty regular basis, am taking more medications than I care to number, and have too many aches and pains that I feel with some discomfort at times. For it all, I'm in pretty good health and as active as I care to be, especially in serving the Lord. I just don't know how I got here. It all happened so fast.

I look at our three adult children. I have pictures I look back at when they were at various stages. For some reason, I guess I thought they would stay there for a longer time and so would I, but that didn't happen. Now they have their own children and adult lives. I'm so grateful for them. God has blessed me with them, but the same thing happened to them as to me. We have all aged and the process will continue as it is meant to do.

My thoughts along this line have come to mind as I have witnessed some older adults who seem to have developed a streak of bitterness in their lives. One lady told me how resentful she is of aging like she has. I asked if she knew what the alternative to living is and she indicated she would almost rather go to Heaven than be old.

I believe the important thing in this process is to remember that every stage of our lives is meant to have purpose. We don't reach the age of 55 and up and purpose of our lives ends. Where I and others are at our ages is a very special stage that contains perhaps more purpose than when we were in our 40's. If we carefully manage our lives physically and spiritually, we have a great deal left to offer our individual worlds.

By now, my hope is that: I know God's Word better than I ever have...that I know how to pray better than in earlier years...that I have a wealth of wisdom to share with others who seek it from me...that I know the importance of relationships...that I value the little things of life...that I've given up having to have the latest toy or gimmick. I still like doing some yard work, getting dirt under my nails while at the same time, enjoying the smell of freshly mown grass. I love sitting in the mountains with Bible on my lap, sniffing the fresh air and maybe even dangling my feet in a stream. I don't need much to entertain me at this stage and that's just fine with me.

I love the verses from Psalms I have included with this blog. I guess at this stage of my life and for other friends of mine, this section is not only a beautiful passage on aging, but is a challenge and guideline for anyone at any stage of life. Thus, my desire is that I will:
*go in the strength of the Lord God,
*speak often of the goodness and righteousness of the Lord,
*share with others those wondrous things the Lord has taught me from my youth,
*show God's strength to this generation and the one to come that includes my children and grandchildren.
*always pray for God's nearness in my life, no matter the age.

Someone younger asked me how one prepares for aging. I have suggested at a young age to be doing the things right where you are that you hope to be doing when you reach those golden years. Stay close to the Lord, live a good, clean life, save your money and live within your means (aging will force you to do it anyway), and under-gird everything about your life with prayer. Prayer and Bible reading isn't just for the old folks...it's for all folks no matter the stage of life.

To be honest, I really don't have time to be bitter nor would I want to be. As long as we are living and breathing, God has purpose for each of our lives no matter our ages. Enjoy having purpose...in fact, have fun in the Lord doing just that.

Thank You Father, for bringing me and so many others to this stage of our lives. May we not waste a moment, not a crumb of this experience. Help us to be of help and encouragement in the lives of our peers and those who come after us. Give us your wisdom and strength. In Jesus' precious name....Amen