There’s nothing like being told, “You’re old.” I’m hearing it a lot lately. Maybe people have been saying it all along and now I’m just hearing it. Maybe it is just another birthday that came and went. And I started repeating it, too. But I believe, you’re as old as you feel.
I have some friends who recently lost their father: He lived to be 100 years old. What a milestone! As a kid, I don’t think I ever heard of as many people living so long. My age is relatively small compared to 100. I still have so much to contribute in 40 years, I think.
Just a Number
You’re as old as you feel. And you can start to feel old when people tell you you look old. But don’t you believe them. We shouldn’t worry about what other people think or say. Age is just a number.
People are living longer these days. Sixty is the new forty. lol. We are becoming genetically modified. We are living longer and stronger. There’s a reason why Pickleball courts are popping up all over the nation.
Feeling old has a lot to do with your health. As we age, our bodies wear out. I guess it depends on how well you take care of it over the years. It’s never too late to start taking care of yourself. Eat healthy. Make better choices about what goes in to it. Stay off medications as long as you can. Get some exercise. Take a walk, or just stand if you sit for long periods of time. Technology has invented some pretty cool ways to stay on top of it. My watch reminds me to stand every hour. Drink lots of water, something I am not good at, if I’m honest. (I love coffee and Mountain Dew, though, not at the same time.)
Aging Is a Gift
As we age, our bodies change, they start to wear out. The teeth fall out. Our bones get weaker. We start to replace things now like knees and hips. We need help seeing and hearing. Growing old is gift.
We get to be that wise spiritual person who can guide the younger ones. The one who gives advice. We tried to advise our kids when we were younger, didn’t we? They didn’t want to hear it. But now, with the gray hair and wrinkles, they are willing to listen and they sometimes even ask for it.
So keep your mind sharp. Read good books. Never stop learning new things. Have some meaningful conversations, face to face. Tell your story. We all have one. Share your childhood with the grandkids or neighbor kid down the street. Keep living life to the fullest. Make the most out of your day.
We are going to be living in a time when there will be so many more older people than anytime in history. What a great blessing we can be to the generations coming after us. What great wisdom we can give them, teaching them about compassion and patience and love for neighbor and God. –Think about it. A generation that has never NOT had a phone in their hand. God has a great plan for all of us. What an amazing God we serve.
Bible Verses
” Now that I am old and gray, do not forsake me, God, That I may proclaim your might to all generations yet to come. Your power and justice, God, to the highest heaven. You have done great things, O God, who is your equal?” –Psalm 71:18-19
“Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, love, and endurance. Similarly, older women should be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to drink, teaching what is good, so that they may train younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, chaste, good homemakers, under the control of their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited.” –Titus 2:2-5.
Action Steps
So no matter your age, get out there and live life for God and others. It’s not time to just sit back and relax. This world is waiting for you and we have things to do, places to go and people to see.
Getting older is a gift from God. Do everything for His glory until you can’t do any more. He alone determines our number of days, young or old.
What are you going to do with the time you have left? Get out your calendar or planner and schedule your days like there is no tomorrow. Live life to the fullest and maybe you’ll get to live to 100!
Thanks for following along. I appreciate you! God bless.–Barb
