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GROWING OLD GRACEFULLY WITH GOD

by Charles (Chuck) Robey
07/02/14
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                                         (Please Read Ecclesiastes 12:1-7)

Growing up as a "PK", short for preachers kid, Mom had many famous clichés. All of which were rated "G", for good of course. One of her favorite saying, expressing a rather common thought or idea of hers, was "growing old gracefully". I never actually knew what Mom meant, until I found myself in that same boat of "growing old gracefully.

So, you are blessed to have lived beyond your allocated 70 years. You see, "Aging gracefully" is often used as a euphemism. Often times, people tend to use the phrase to mean, "Looking old, but embracing it" or "Showing signs of aging, but still powering forward with life." In this way, the term feels almost negative or backhanded - it's the phrase we use to describe someone who isn't looking as good as they once did.

But is that the only interpretation we can affix to this term? Perhaps aging gracefully doesn't necessarily have to refer to age or appearance, but rather the attitude people have as they go through the various stages of life. The following excerpts, taken in part from an unknown internet source, explains "growing old gracefully" rather nicely. And I quote !

"You know .... time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams. Where did the years go and where did my youth go"?

I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me. However, aging was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like.

But, here it is... my friends are retired and getting gray... they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me... but, I see the great change... Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant... but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd become.

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore... it's mandatory! Cause if I don't on my own free will... I just fall asleep where I sit!

And so... now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!!

But, this I know, that when it's over on this earth... it's over. A new adventure will begin! Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn't done... things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I'm happy to have done. It's all in a lifetime.

So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly! Don't put things off too long!! Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today.

You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life... so, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember... and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!!

"Life" is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one. LIVE IT WELL! ENJOY TODAY! DO SOMETHING FUN! BE HAPPY! HAVE A GREAT DAY!
Remember it is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.

LASTLY, CONSIDER THIS:
----- Your kids are becoming you...... but your grandchildren are perfect!
----- Going out is good.. Coming home is better!
----- You forget names.... but it's OK because other people forgot they even knew you!!!
----- The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really do care that you don't care to do them anymore.
----- You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than in bed. It's called "pre-sleep."
----- You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON" and "OFF" switch.
----- You tend to use more 4 letter words ... "what?"..."when?"... ???
----- Now that you can afford expensive jewelry, it's not safe to wear it anywhere.
----- You notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless"?!!!
----- What used to be freckles are now liver spots.
----- Everybody now whispers.
----- You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet.... 2 of which you will never wear.
(Author Unknown)

But Old is good in some things: Old Songs, Old movies, and best of all, OLD FRIENDS!!

So, stay well, "OLD FRIEND!" It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived.

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU'VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU'LL EVER BE, SO ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS.
(Author Unknown)

The aforementioned scenario of " growing old gracefully" seems to sum it all up rather nicely, would you not say ? You see, "growing old gracefully" doesn't necessarily mean wearing your wrinkles with pride. Instead, just do whatever is necessary to stride into your older years with confidence. For some, this could be simply taking aging in stride by embracing the natural signs of aging without having to visiting that world famous plastic surgeon along the way. For others, it may mean the mind-set of taking certain steps to make your outside appearance match the way you feel on the inside.

There was a time in my life, in which I felt rather "down and out". So, I decided to seek the help of the wises man God placed on this earth, King Solomon. I resolved to meditate on one chapter from the book of Proverbs ( it has 31 chapters) each day for an entire month. This God directed path of living did wonders for my attitude of life. Try it, you're sure to like it.

In conclusion !
Always obey God,Fear God and keeps His commandments, by excepting the Bible writings as being upright and true (2 Timothy 3:16).

God has not told man how to comprehend all the frustrating futilities of life, but He has instructed man to enjoy life as His gift (Ecc2:24), to make the most of every opportunity (Ecc 9:10), and to live life with reverence toward God (Ecc 12:13), accompanied by an awareness of future judgment (Ecc 12:14), We must learn to live with life's paradoxes by maintaining a proper attitude toward life and God. (Ecc 12:9-14).

Authors Post Script-
I recently watched an infomercial in which a man and lady ( apparently a husband and wife) were emphasizing the remedy for "growing old gracefully" was a certain highly advertised "wonder pill" "supplement. However, I fail to see how swallowing these pills will make one graceful, which is defined as lithe, agile, dainty, pretty, delicate, handsome and trim. 'Wisdom, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary is knowledge, insight and judgment. I just don't believe that swallowing supplements would ever provide any of us with Solomon's qualities of caring and wisdom. You thoughts !

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