Aging Gracefully According to God's PlanНамуна

LEARN TO BE CONTENT NO MATTER YOUR AGE

“Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days” Job 12:12

I heard an adage that almost everyone gets to be young, but not everyone gets to experience being old! When I heard it, I immediately grabbed my laptop and archived it into a file. Because I am well into my seventh decade of life, I felt a nudge to write about this age-old problem. We live in a world that surrounds us daily with a deluge of ads and photos that have preyed on the minds of countless teens and adults.

When I was in my forties, a cousin told me I had beautiful skin. My skin and my eyes in those days were my most outstanding features. I will always remember how her comment made me feel but I also remember a comment I received when wrinkles began to appear, and it made me want to preserve my age. Like other women, and likely men as well, I was among those purchasing products such as cremes, hydrating acids, exfoliants, facial massagers, and masks; all to no avail.

I happened to mention to my mentor, Loverna, how aging was bothering me. A few weeks later, I received a precious letter from her. Loverna had seemingly aged overnight at a very young age, with the entire package of grey hair and deep facial wrinkles. She told me at first it bothered her, which would be the normal human reaction.

Loverna was a Pastor’s wife. She was filled with wisdom and had a smile and laughter that permeated her. Wherever she went a glow of peace and joy followed her. Loverna didn’t write the adage above, but she lived it.

I saw a Job-like quality in my friend who had endured many hardships throughout the years I had known her. She didn’t depend on outer beauty to be her Savior. When friends of Job were anything but supportive, Job knew who he was in God, and that is the same way my dear friend lived life!

PRACTICE: Every day tell yourself you are made in the image of God!

PRAYER: Father, help us to know who we are in You. Lord. You created life with aging in mind, or we would all be forever young. Help us to realize that our beauty is generated from the heart, not our faces. In Jesus’ Name. Amen