In a casual conversation with my son, I remarked that these are the happiest days of my life. I'll be 83 in 3 months. He said, "Most people wouldn't think that--and wouldn't say it even if it was true."
That set me to thinking of why it's true--and it is.
For one thing, I've learned a lot about self-generated happiness. I'm about as happy as I make up my mind to be. And I'm not under pressure of job, family responsibilities, etc. I enjoyed those years, but there was not a whole lot of time to think. I'm freer to use time than I have ever been. That's a little scary because it makes me solely responsible for redeeming the time--using it wisely, exchanging it for something lasting and valuable. Comes under the heading of good stewardship. In other years that was taken care of pretty handily because there were two tasks for every minute--pretty obvious what had to be done.
Although it's scary to command your own time, it's heady also: pure freedom to be.
And I've drawn closer to God in these years--spend more time one-on-one with Him. He's the Father, and I'm the child. The Holy Spirit bears witness with my spirit to that favored position. And it's a perfectly wonderful place to be. He knows me inside out--I have no secrets from Him, and He loves me anyway.
I sometimes feel that I'm in heaven's waiting room, so pleasant are my associations, my thoughts and the parameters of my life. I am so very grateful to my Abba Father who alone has brought me to this happy circumstance. Friends and family are very dear, but what lies beyond is dearer still. All this and heaven too!
Note: I wrote this a few days before I fell and broke my good right arm (2-15-04). Soon after that I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. By the grace of God, manifested in skilled surgeons, I survived the Whipple Procedure. I was told that this operation was equal to a liver transplant in danger--and that I probably had a 10% chance of survival. I am now two years past this surgery, not cured of being 85, but able to get around, drive locally, and thoroughly enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. As I re-read the foregoing, I realized that it's truer now than back in 2004.
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Aline, God Bless You for sharing this awesome testimony, for "such a time as this!" Beautifully written, and a real evidence of His faithfulness to His people...I pray you continue to share from your wealth of wisdom, as I will be looking for your work, and have a feeling you have much, much more to share! Thankyou,Pat
