Embracing Every Season

Age is a funny thing to consider. So often it's about our perspective.

When we are children, we can’t wait for our next birthday to be a year older.

As a teen growing older it might mean more freedoms.

Many young people look forward to being an adult. Which could be at 18 or 21 years old, depending on the situation.

Generally speaking, the twenties through forties people raise families and/or focus on careers.

Then comes the fifties. For most of us, things slow down a bit.

Kids are probably grown, or almost there.

Maybe you start thinking about when you want to retire; what plans that you have in place.

By the sixties, most are looking forward to retirement within the next ten years.

Some call these the “Golden years,” but I’m not sure why.

I guess for some it's a time to slow down, when you don't have to work 40 hours or more each week.

I know for me, my body has definitely slowed down, but haven’t we all at this point?

Age doesn’t bother me often, but the thoughts can sneak up on me.

When writing my first book “Life with Lydia,” I had pondered many times, “I’m 65, how can I write a book at my age?”

But why not? I’m not dead yet. I can sit at my desk and write without any problem. Somehow it seemed to me that writing a book was something you did right out of college.

I contemplated this for a bit.

When I was younger, I wouldn’t have had the experiences and life lessons that I do now. I certainly wouldn’t have written a story of Lydia’s life back then.

But age was still a bit of a hang up for me. That is, until I saw an article about Laura Ingalls Wilder. She published her first book in the “Little House” series when she turned 65.

I’m not comparing my writing to hers, only that we both first published at 65 years of age. It made me realize my age didn’t matter.

Recently I was reading in the bible about Noah. He was old when he built the ark. Like 500 years old! I can hardly imagine living that long. My father turns 99 next month and that seems crazy!

They estimate that Noah took between 50-75 years to complete the ark.

(Ladies, if you get tired of your husband's unfinished projects, imagine Noah’s wife. The ark was very large, and it must have been a mess for a long time.)

But, Noah lived over 300 years after the flood. I imagine his family had a lot of stories to share with their children, and grandchildren, about the ark. What an adventure!

In the Old Testament times, people lived much longer than we do.

So with a much shorter lifespan, instead of stressing about how old we are, we should make the most of the time God has given us here.

We should use our gifts and talents to bless others. To share about God’s great love and purpose for each of us.

Whether 25 or 65, our circumstances may differ, but we all still have the same choice. To live each day in a way that honors God.

It may be reading to toddlers at bedtime or reaching out to the residents where my Dad lives.

But, I pray I can always be open to loving others the way Christ loves me.

“Is wisdom not found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?” Job 12:12

Blessings my friends!