Old Age
I'm sure this will be a "rambler". I can not get my thoughts together and organized about this subject.
I will soon be sixty years old. That sounds so old. I remember when my paternal grandmother was in her sixties. She was white headed and old.
I don't feel old in the middle! Do you understand what I mean. My body is looking old but really in the middle, in the "who I am", I am still a little girl, eternally young, with not a care.
I said this was going to be a rambler and so it will because as I type each sentence, more thoughts are stirred.
God blessed me with a good home. My parents were saved when I was four years old and I was able to observe their fresh faith at a crucial time in my life.
Within a year of salvation, my father surrendered to the ministry. I am so proud of how he trusted God and was not afraid of hard work when it was necessary to sustain his family when the churches he pastored could not afford to pay much.
My mother stuck by his side, playing the organ, going on visitation, raising five children, cooking EVERY meal, and enduring much hardship to keep the children clothed and clean.
I love them so much and remember all the good times and there were many.
Now they are nearing eighty and physically, the father that I knew, who was never still, is losing his abilities to contribute a lot of physical activity. I got a report from my sister who is now living with our parents, that he is depressed and always in pain.
I don't want to think about my parents as OLD. I remember when I was in the fifth grade. I was walking home from school one day and a block from my house I saw my dad standing out on the street beside our car, giving a whistle(which meant "Come to me immediately--no delay!!!") I had been walking with a new friend. We were playing and she was holding on to my arm. I said quickly, "Oh, that's my dad!! I HAVE to go right now!" She said "That's not your dad!!!! He's too young to be your dad!" I want to think of dad that way.
I want to remember the twinkle in his eye when he slipped in the back door on Christmas Eve with the bride doll I wanted so much and thought I had no hope of getting!
I want to remember my mother like she was when I was in high school, when she babysat for a little girl and fell in love with this child. She made her a little dress and gave her special attention. I loved that about my mother. She was always on the side of the most needy person.
I remember my senior year in high school when my brother's friend moved in with us. He probably wasn't invited but, as I said, my mother had a soft spot for a person in need. If ever there was one who was needy, that was one. She shared time, food, shelter and attention and made a difference in that life.
I remember her visit when I had my second child, the meals she cooked, the bath she drew for me. It was one of the only times in my life as an adult, that I felt I could relax and the person caring for me truly did it because she loved me! I have always had a problem feeling like I must work for whatever attention I get.
My parents are a very good example of God's grace and care. They have been faithful to Him in so many areas. Especially in giving, I have seen thier hearts.
I think that all our lives we have felt that we mattered to God because of what we did! How devastating in this day when abilities decrease and the cares of life are piled like mountains all around us. We MUST hold to God's words. "...My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirimities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." II Corinthians 12:9-10
Our hope lies here, that while our abilities and self worth decrease, perhaps we will find the peace, so lacking in a world of works by mere physical strength. Maybe we will be finally in a place of quietness that God can work on our hard hearts and speak in an intimate way to our souls. Oh God, we pray for that just now!!
I will soon be sixty years old. That sounds so old. I remember when my paternal grandmother was in her sixties. She was white headed and old.
I don't feel old in the middle! Do you understand what I mean. My body is looking old but really in the middle, in the "who I am", I am still a little girl, eternally young, with not a care.
I said this was going to be a rambler and so it will because as I type each sentence, more thoughts are stirred.
God blessed me with a good home. My parents were saved when I was four years old and I was able to observe their fresh faith at a crucial time in my life.
Within a year of salvation, my father surrendered to the ministry. I am so proud of how he trusted God and was not afraid of hard work when it was necessary to sustain his family when the churches he pastored could not afford to pay much.
My mother stuck by his side, playing the organ, going on visitation, raising five children, cooking EVERY meal, and enduring much hardship to keep the children clothed and clean.
I love them so much and remember all the good times and there were many.
Now they are nearing eighty and physically, the father that I knew, who was never still, is losing his abilities to contribute a lot of physical activity. I got a report from my sister who is now living with our parents, that he is depressed and always in pain.
I don't want to think about my parents as OLD. I remember when I was in the fifth grade. I was walking home from school one day and a block from my house I saw my dad standing out on the street beside our car, giving a whistle(which meant "Come to me immediately--no delay!!!") I had been walking with a new friend. We were playing and she was holding on to my arm. I said quickly, "Oh, that's my dad!! I HAVE to go right now!" She said "That's not your dad!!!! He's too young to be your dad!" I want to think of dad that way.
I want to remember the twinkle in his eye when he slipped in the back door on Christmas Eve with the bride doll I wanted so much and thought I had no hope of getting!
I want to remember my mother like she was when I was in high school, when she babysat for a little girl and fell in love with this child. She made her a little dress and gave her special attention. I loved that about my mother. She was always on the side of the most needy person.
I remember my senior year in high school when my brother's friend moved in with us. He probably wasn't invited but, as I said, my mother had a soft spot for a person in need. If ever there was one who was needy, that was one. She shared time, food, shelter and attention and made a difference in that life.
I remember her visit when I had my second child, the meals she cooked, the bath she drew for me. It was one of the only times in my life as an adult, that I felt I could relax and the person caring for me truly did it because she loved me! I have always had a problem feeling like I must work for whatever attention I get.
My parents are a very good example of God's grace and care. They have been faithful to Him in so many areas. Especially in giving, I have seen thier hearts.
I think that all our lives we have felt that we mattered to God because of what we did! How devastating in this day when abilities decrease and the cares of life are piled like mountains all around us. We MUST hold to God's words. "...My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirimities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." II Corinthians 12:9-10
Our hope lies here, that while our abilities and self worth decrease, perhaps we will find the peace, so lacking in a world of works by mere physical strength. Maybe we will be finally in a place of quietness that God can work on our hard hearts and speak in an intimate way to our souls. Oh God, we pray for that just now!!
posted by momlinda1945 | 7:40 AM
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