As Time Goes By, The Gift of Aging
Do you remember your childhood, the days of grade school and summer vacations? I have memories of long summer days filled with climbing trees, riding bikes and playing endlessly in our large country yard. Occasionally there would be a trip to the lake, where I would splash and play with my siblings and float on inner tubes. I remember how excited we would all be because we were getting a coke to enjoy with our picnic lunch. Cokes were a rare and special treat in our household and we looked forward to any opportunity to enjoy one. As a child summer days seemed to stretch on and on as though summer would never end. But it did. And with the end of summer another school year began and, with the progression of time, grade school became middle school, then junior high and high school and finally graduation. Each step was a new beginning in our lives. As we progressed through the educational steps of life we also progressed through time. It is true, time waits for no one. It continues to pass regardless of where we are or what we are doing or what we want. Time continues to move forward.
When I was about 14 years old I remember looking at a young woman in our church who was celebrating her 30th birthday, and I felt sorry for her. From the perspective of a young teenager 30 seemed to be so very old. I knew that I would get to be 30 at some point as well but it was, of course, waaaay down the road, a long time off. I think it’s natural for us to feel that way, to look at the aging of others and feel that it will never happen to us. We will somehow manage to be forever young. As I sit here writing this I realize I have made a considerable bit of progress through time. It seemed unreal the number that was staring me in the face at my last birthday. Could I possibly really be that age? But how? I don’t feel that age. I feel at least 30 years younger! But the number is real and every glance in the mirror confirms it.
Many times references about getting old often carry a negative connotation as though it is regrettable. But I choose to take a different approach to aging. Aging is not the act of getting old, it is simply the process of getting older. Getting older is a gift given to us by God, our Creator. I feel that getting old is more like a state of mind, often suggesting that we are without purpose or unwanted, that we no longer have value. Yet we are each specifically designed by God with our own individual gifts, talents and purpose. Would I like to look like I did 30 years ago? Erase the wrinkles, have the dark brunette hair that I had in my youth, feel as energetic and active? Absolutely. Accepting what time has given us doesn’t mean that we won’t miss what we once had. It means we are thankful for what we currently have. Because there is beauty in both.
The natural process of aging through time brings many changes that we may not welcome and we struggle to accept. Changes such as retirement and the many adjustments in life that it brings, the loss of mobility or the death of a spouse and, for some, the loss of independence. Changes that can leave us in a state of limbo, not knowing how to move forward. In every situation that we face, all through life, young or older, our perspective plays a massive part in how we handle changes and how we move forward. There may not always be a silver lining in our circumstances but choosing to search out the possibilities can present an avenue of pursuit that will open doors, allowing us to maintain a life filled with fulfillment and purpose.
With each beat of our heart, each breath that fills our lungs, we continue to walk in time. It is a gift that not everyone has been given.
God’s word tells us that our days are short and numbered, and that we each have an appointment for our departure. If we are blessed to have gray hair, wrinkles, fading eye sight or a step that’s a bit faltering or unsure, there is a reason. That reason is that we have been given time. With each beat of our heart, each breath that fills our lungs, we continue to walk in time. It is a gift that not everyone has been given. A gift that should be valued and embraced. Aging is not only a gift but an honor. God alone chooses who will continue to walk in time, who will be gifted with gray hair and wrinkles. And there must be a purpose. God always has a purpose, a reason for what He does. Perhaps He gives you the gift of time because He has something specifically for you to do, to be, to accomplish, to share. To be considered by our amazing Creator is, indeed, a gift and an honor.
There is an old saying that “youth is wasted on the young”. The meaning of that saying could be individually interpreted but I believe it to mean that the young don’t fully appreciate their season of youth or understand how fleeting it is. They don’t take full advantage of what it could mean for their future. Perhaps the same could be said for the older. As we age I’m not sure that we fully understand the value that age brings. With age comes experience and, hopefully, wisdom that can be shared with the young. Life is a classroom like no other. The longer we are given breath, the greater the education we acquire. And to whom much is given, much is required. Sharing the life lessons we’ve learned is not only rewarding, but it is biblical as well.
There are multiple avenues for sharing lessons we have learned as we’ve progressed through life. Consider these suggestions remembering to be real, vulnerable and honest, acknowledging your failures as well as your successes, your weaknesses as well as your strengths. In doing this you will teach that no one is perfect, allowing your listener the freedom to embrace their own faults and shortcomings, learning to give their best yet not to be hard on themselves when they falter and that getting up and trying again is always in order.
Host story time parties or picnics with your children or your grandchildren and tell them stories of your own childhood. Fill the stories with factual details that help them to actually feel your words and imagine themselves being there. Make it a show and tell by showing them pictures of yourself as a child and, perhaps, pictures of your parents and siblings. Include pictures and stories of great grandparents and relatives from generations before, introducing them to their family heritage and possibly sparking an interest for them to want to know more, keeping the family heritage alive and well for future generations to come.
Write your stories and publish them in a book that will be passed down from generation to generation, spanning through the progression of time, becoming a legacy for generations to come. Family legacy is priceless and worth the effort to preserve it. Remember to include pictures.
Mentor someone. It can be a teen (with parental permission) or young adult, single or married. Befriend them and share the wisdom you have learned from your life experiences. Many young people have been spared much hardship and heartache because of the influence of a godly mentor.
The golden years of aging can be full and rewarding, filled with purpose and usefulness, enhancing this season of life in a very rich and beautiful way. All of life is filled with choices. Choose to embrace getting older. It is your gift from God.
Gail for Gail’s Favorite Things