HOW DID I GET HERE?

O God, thou hast taught me

from my youth: and hitherto

have I declared thy wondrous

works.

Psalm 71:17

My Mother was talking to a lady friend from church on the phone. I was in first grade thereabouts so didn't really pay much attention. But then I heard a name mentioned...Nellie. Nellie Barker had been my first Sunday school teacher when I was about 4-5. We kids dearly loved Nellie. My Mother mentioned that Nellie hadn't been feeling well and then said, “You know Nellie is in her mid-sixties by now.” She said it in a very ominous way that scared me. I went into my room and remember laying on my bed crying. My Mother assured me when she heard my woe in the matter that Nellie wasn't about to die right then BUT that Nellie was a very old lady.

When I reached my mid-sixties, I remembered back to that day. Back then, being in one's sixties was considered old age. So I look at me now and wonder how I got to where I am so quickly. It's okay even though many women who are of age refuse to talk about it with honesty. Bottom line is, we are who/what we are, God has brought us a long way where we've had more opportunities to know and serve Him.

I have come to love Psalm 71, a Psalm with emphasis on old age. In it, I see phrases that say:

*let me never be put to confusion

*forsake me not when my strength faileth

*...when I am old and grayheaded...

Read this Psalm sometime and see all of the joy and blessing God has for us at this stage in our lives. The last three verses resound with the wonder of praise in these special days of life.....it ain't all bad, folks.

Thank You Father for bringing me to these special days of life. I want to serve You in special ways in this season of my life. I pray through Your strength and love that I will finish well. Ever in Jesus...Amen