THE JOY OF OLD LADYHOOD

So teach us to number our days,
that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom
Psalm 90:12

For the last several years, I have wondered why many women I have known, have resisted the inevitability of aging. It can be some of the best years of our lives or we can end up being bitter, miserable old ladies. Pardon my using the term “old lady” if you feel it isn't politically correct. Growing up, I heard most older ladies...50 and over...referred to old ladies all the time. They often would use the term with each other, but that would not be acceptable today.

I formed in my own mind what an old lady was when I was at the ripe old age of about 10 or 12 years old. I watched for characteristics of many older ladies it was my privilege to have any contact with. From so many of them, I picked up on things I saw I associated with being an old lady.

Tonight after my bath as I was putting lotion on my arms and hands I thought of a day I took our girls to see a dear older lady friend. Beverly wasn't in school yet as I recall. The sweet lady took hold of Beverly's hand and Beverly always having been an observant person looked at the back of the lady's hand. The lady noticed Beverly touching the skin on her hand and commented to Beverly “Those are wrinkles.” Beverly quickly said, “They aren't wrinkles, they are ruffles.” I looked at the back of my hands tonight and thought of that incident and quietly thanked the Lord for my “ruffles.”

Beverly's daughter Madelyn, has proven to be as perceptive as her mom. When Madelyn was three or there abouts, she and her mom were visiting with us for a few days. We went out on a mountain trail. I walked several feet in front of the three of them, and when I did, Brian said to Madelyn, “Who's that old lady up there?” I loved her reply as did Brian and I think of it often. Madelyn replied, “That's not an old lady...that's Grandma.” We've all in our childhood had the same observations at one time or another as we looked at those dear ones of age we loved and respected.
 

Let me share some things I observed at that young age by just watching old ladies I knew. Many of those things I would hope to incorporate in my own life, but I will pass on some of them.

I learned that one can pray out loud anytime, not just in church. I learned that from Aunt Ida who I could hear praying through her open front door when I would walk by her house. I also learned the same from Mrs Vineyard who often prayed in her chicken house down the alley from my house. I could hear her as clear as could be.

I thought when a old lady, you had to have a big, old, torn up Bible you carried to church. They also carried huge purses. When one is old, I didn't think they would want to carry heavy things. Some of those purses held candy that was passed out to us kids. I never saw one of them with kleenix...only nice cloth handkerchiefs sometimes with crochet trims on them.

There are some things I observed that I haven't adopted for myself at this stage of my life. Older ladies almost always wore hats to church...morning and evening. They all wore lots of perfume. They wore odd black, lace up shoes to church with small heels on them. The shoes didn't come above the ankle. They loved being with God's people and always seemed to be very pleasant to everyone.

If I saw older ladies during the week, they wore house dresses with an apron and many times a sun bonnet if they were working in their gardens. I just knew they all did crochet or knitting in their spare time. Some had health issues but for many, those issues amounted to bad colds. You didn't hear then of health issues like we hear of today.

There's more I could review but it causes me to look at my life, my activity, my spiritual walk and what service I can be in the Lord's work. I want to be a prayer warrior like many of those dear ladies were, faithful to God's house and feeling such a family spirit in my church family.

I love the promises of God regarding the aging process that we can claim in our everyday lives.

And even to your old age I am he;
and even to hoar (gray) hairs will I carry you;
I have made, and I will bear; even I
will carry, and will deliver you.
Isaiah 46:4

No matter our stage of life, God promises to be with us every minute of those stages. He wants us to stay in close relationship with Him. He wants us to seek His wisdom with all of life's decisions we are called on to make in these days. We need not resent or resist this wonderful stage of life. God isn't finished with any of us. We have the wisdom of life experiences to share with younger folks who ask. I choose to glance at the back of my hands, hands that have served in more ways than I can count, and be grateful to God for every “ruffle”.
 

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 71:18)

Amen and Amen