Aging is a crown of glory

A gray head is a crown of glory; It is found in the way of righteousness. Proverbs 16:31

Oh my gosh, one day we will look in the mirror and realize time has caught up with us. Wow, really, it has finally arrived and we find ourselves middle-aged. We look at ourselves in the mirror, and we try to find all visible wrinkles, dark spots plus anything else we may think didn’t exist before. We all get old and no one is exempt unless we die before our time. When we are young, we never think nor see ourselves getting to that point nor do we see ourselves as “older” in our appearance. We talk about goals, and making plans about our future and planning our family size, and discussing what style of home we want, and yet, we don’t visualize ourselves as “old.” Maybe, when we do think ahead about 20 years, we see ourselves as the same age.

When I was younger about twelve, I remember playing house with my cousins and there we were talking and wondering about our future lives and making silly statements like, “When I get married” or “I wonder what my kids would look like?” and fantasize about our future husband. Now, that I remember all this, I just smile and think how innocent we were as young girls, which we didn’t have a clue about the real world. Now, as a person up in my years, and of course, I’m not going to tell you my age… nope, I will not. Ladies never give out their age. But of course, we all should agree on that. So, as time passes we grow up, some of us go to college and others got married. Now, we worry about our families, work, retirement, reinventing ourselves and worrying about getting old.

We have to consider our age in all these things, but there are other things that happen to us as we grow older… I hate to say, that we all will experience some degree of age discrimination at the work-place, retails, restaurants, BBQs, parties and at other gatherings. It’s not fun when the younger employees start to speak louder to you because they feel you don’t hear… and our families… They begin to leave you out on outings and events because they think your too old or you may not enjoy yourself as you once did. The audience replacing us is the younger family group with other family members replacing the older ones and so on; the cycle of life continues. We begin to observe the reactions of the younger generations around us. The way they see or ignore us, and how they make you feel your dumb or out of touch with the world around us. I have come to the conclusion that younger people just don’t understand our aging population, and we ourselves begin to fear age at some point. As we age, we develop new fears and a loss of respect from the younger generations, especially in this era we live in now.

Well, what are some fears we may all have as we age? These are the loss of family, friends, employment, finances, respect, feeling invisible, neglect, health issues, and even death. But, I and hopefully many of you have come to a place of understanding that aging gracefully is such a great joy. We get to enjoy life at a much slower pace. We have more wisdom and understanding about life, that they don’t have yet. These virtues come with life experience. Young people – go to your family elders for advice… it’s not biased nor developed out of peer pressure, but it’s pure wisdom that not even gold can buy.

I recall Psalm 90:10, which states, “Our days may come to seventy years or eighty if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass and we fly away.” As I read this scripture, I felt discouraged. I decided to look into it and as it is A Prayer of Moses, the man of God;  he prayed, that we may know or understand and to properly number or appreciate the shortness of our days, that we may be wise. As Moses sings of the frailty of man, and the shortness of life, contrasting it with the eternity of God and earnestly appeals for compassion.  Oh, but we do so appreciate our upcoming days as we do our weird stuff as some may say. Maybe, it’s just an annoyance since they don’t understand us. They don’t understand that our days are numbered, but death can arrive at any time for anyone. We don’t have to be old for death to come knocking on our door. We appreciate our upcoming days and we want to spend more time with our children, grandkids and with relatives because every moment is precious. We are no longer tied down to the working time clocks anymore nor are we having to write you down in our calendar books to see you. But if we have time for you – we got time. It’s always open except when we do have something to do. Our perks of getting older are many… yes, we have an advantage over the younger ones. Don’t cry over it! You are the best thing around. Ok, let discuss the perks of aging gracefully…

• We no longer have to clock-in to a job
• We no longer have to pay full price – we get Senior discounts
• We are given a chair when they are all taken
• we are allowed to go first in line (sometimes)
• We don’t care what people think anymore (this is such a relief)
• Were are more mature in nature
• We don’t have to fuss over our looks as much
• We can go to bed anytime we want
• Fewer things to worry about
• We can enjoy our kids and grandkids – we spend time with them and then they go home – to their home.
• We can dress any way we want
• We have stable relationships
• You can be on your phone all day if you like
• and my favorite – I don’t have to listen to every complaint. I just act like my going deaf

So there are so many wonderful perks in getting older – my mother is 86 years old, very beautiful and she still drives and does whatever she wants; worry-free. Now, that’s my kind of lady. I love my mama and I pray that at 86, I’m still going full force like her.

On the other hand, one of our worries about getting old is that we feel no once cares for us and that we will be alone. I read in 1 Timothy 5:8, “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” Really, do you know how many people abandon their parents as they begin to live their lives? The parents finally get to an age that they are visited less and less as the years go by. However, the scripture states that anyone that does that is worse than an unbeliever. But of course, we know that we are loved, and being in Christ, the Father has loved us from the beginning and He will never abandon us. If we have received salvation as John 3:16 states, then we have an eternity to be with our heavenly Father and those that love us. However, we also know our own children who do love us, but they can tend to separate themselves; they get too busy. I have seen that happen to too many elderly couples. Please, don’t forget your parents, kids.

Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season. Job 5:26

So, understanding that family can get too busy and they tend to forget about their parents and other elderly people… we begin to enjoy life again without children. We decide to focus on something else, hobbies, vacations, and other events. But, one thing for sure is that we don’t have to worry about been cast away because as long as we have our relationship with Father, we are covered by his lovingkindness and mercy. We will have a wonderful life in Christ, no fear shall overtake us. In Psalm 92:12-15, it is written, “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;  planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.  They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green,  proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.” Yes, He is, and we shall indeed. While I read, Job 5:26, I loved the way it described us going to the grave like a shock of corn cometh in his season. But in order to accept death, we must make peace with ourselves and with all we love. We also must know and seek out our heavenly Father.

Death, it’s part of life – our pets, all living creatures, family, and friends will all experience death. It’s the permanent ending of all biological functions that sustain a living organism. We know that death is… coming one day.

• Death is inevitable (It will come)
• Death is acceptable (It shall come)
• Death is timely (at a full age)
• Death is honorable (as a sheaf of grain ripens in its season)

“Even as the color of the wheat is golden, so that it looks more beauteous than when the greenness of its verdure is on it, so the gray-headed man has a crown of glory on his head. He is glorious in his weakness, more than the young man in his strength, or the maiden in her beauty. Is not a shock of corn a beautiful picture of the state of man, moreover, because very soon it must be taken home? The reaper is coming.” (Spurgeon)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Death is nothing to fear. We are merely completing our mission here on earth and moving on to our spiritual home with our heavenly Father Yahweh (YHWH). John 5:24  states, “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” This is awesome and such a blessing for those who believe and have Jesus as their Lord and savior. We then shall move on to eternal life, now, that sounds like heaven to me.

I want everybody to have a chance of eternal life… for all of us to experience life with Father. And if you find yourself without Christ, please read this prayer of Salvation. Salvation, which means to be redeemed or delivered from sin and its punishment of death. To be set free and know, love, and serve God our heavenly Father. … “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23 KJV). Now, please read the prayer if you so desire and after that find a local church to become part of God’s family and they will help you grow spiritually by the teaching of the Word and with emotional support.

“Dear God, I want to be a part of your family. You said in Your Word that if I acknowledge that You raised Jesus from the dead and that I accept Him as my Lord and Savior, I would be saved. So God, I now say that I believe You raised Jesus from the dead and that He is alive and well. I accept Him now as my personal Lord and Savior. I accept my salvation from sin right now. I am now saved. Jesus is my Lord. Jesus is my Savior. Thank you, Father God, for forgiving me, saving me, and giving me eternal life with You. Amen!” 

Stay faithful and blessed.