Anyone who knows me and has been following this blog for awhile knows that I’ve had just a few internal struggles over growing older.  Indeed, turning 60 in November was a bit of a shock to my system!  No other entry into a new decade brought with it the same feelings that this birthday did.

  Looking back, I think that my feelings of being old were intensified  by the cross country move at the end of 2014, when I left everything behind that I’d ever known, coupled with the end of the ministry my hubby and I were involved in that (though extremely difficult) gave me such great purpose.  Other than writing, I’ve yet to find what my purpose is here in SC.  In addition to that I’ve also had some changes in health (less than perfect labs for the first time in my life), new aches and pains, weight gain, more body fat, less muscle, etc.  Nothing serious and all things I can and AM changing with diet and a new fitness routine. 

Hooray for New Year’s resolutions!

As I’ve seen the changes taking place in my body and on my FACE, I’ve tried to bravely stand against the temptation to nip, tuck, cut, and lift (don’t worry, I’m not going there), but I really don’t enjoy seeing my mom’s face superimposed upon my own.  Nothing against my mom, but she was OLD!

Well, leave it to God to call me on my negative self talk!  Standing in the shower the other day (the place where all of my greatest thoughts seem to manifest), I was thinking, once again, about this age thing. This is what I heard,

“Patti, you are only 60 years old.  You could very well live into your 90’s!  Do you want to spend the next 30 years complaining about being old?”

The answer of course was a great BIG, “NO!“

Funny how life changes can cause the enemy of our souls to go on the attack in an attempt to take us captive in our thoughts, whispering words intended to take us out, to thwart God’s plan for our lives, to cut through the very foundation upon which we stand, and cause us to tumble to the ground in a great big heap of self pity.

Not.  Happening.  Here.  There is nothing in the Bible that talks about retirement from doing the work of the Lord!  In fact, in the Psalms King David’s prayer is to be allowed to continue to tell of God’s greatness well on into old age, even speaking of God’s wonders to those yet to be born!

    “Do not set me aside when I am old; do not abandon me when I am worn out . . . I will keep hope alive, and my praise to You will grow exponentially.  I will bear witness to Your merciful acts; throughout the day I will speak of all the ways You deliver . . .  I will come with stories of Your great acts, my Lord, the Eternal.  I will remind them of Your justice, only Yours.  You have taught me since I was young, O God, and I still proclaim the wonderful things You have done.  Now as I grow old and my hair turns gray, I ask that You not abandon me, O God.  Allow me to share with the generation to come about Your power;  Let me speak about Your strength and wonders to all those yet to be born. God, Your justice stretches to the heavens, You who have done mighty things!  Who is like You, O God?”  Psalm 70: 9, 14-19 (The Voice)

Pastor Jack Hayford says this about age, “God calls us to capture His possibilities for each season of our lives. Reject the world’s thinking about your age. With age comes increase, significance and substance . . . With change, some people’s worlds come apart and they begin to lose their sense of value and self-worth. But with each season of our lives, God desires to sharpen our focus if we will answer His call to turn to whatever it is He is doing right now.”  The link to Pastor Jack’s full article is HERE.

As you see the pictures I’ve taken of my home adorned for winter notice beauty and light.  See how the light SHINES (my word for 2016 by the way)!  There is no darkness and decay here, but only a temporary stillness before new things break forth with the freshness of Spring!

I am refreshed and renewed by God’s Word daily.  My light SHINES as I choose to laugh (snicker, giggle, snicker, snort, and whoop!) when looking toward the future.  How about you?  Will you join me?

Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. Proverbs 31/25 (ESV) Share on X

Blessings,

 TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, NiftyThriftyThings, SilverPenniesSundays, SundaysAtHome, RusticAndRefined, Spiritual Sundays, Sunday Stillness