“Growing Old Gracefully”

“The fear of the LORD adds length to life...” (Proverbs 10:27 NIV).

When asked about the benefits of living to be 100 years old, one centenarian smiled and said, 'There's very little peer pressure.' As comical as that sounds, thanks to medical science we're living well into our eighties, nineties and beyond! But living longer means dealing with the realities of aging. 

Our youth-orientated culture often gives old age a bad image, BUT CLEARLY GOD DOESN’T AGREE! TO HIM, OLD AGE IS THE REWARD FOR A LIFE WELL-LIVED, A PRIVILEGE EARNED, AN ACCOMPLISHMENT WORTH CELEBRATING, AND WISDOM SHARED TO BENEFIT SUCCEEDING GENERATIONS!

 

Note how God sees aging. He views long life as EVIDENCE OF HIS FAVOR! He says, 'For by Me [Wisdom From God] your days shall be MULTIPLIED, and the years of your life shall be INCREASED.' (Proverbs 9:11 AMP). LONGEVITY, WITH ALL ITS ACHES AND PAINS, IS A BLESSING! 'The fear of the Lord ADDS LENGTH TO LIFE, but the years of the wicked are cut short.'

You say, 'But who will take care of me when I get old?' Don't worry, God will be there for you: 'Listen to me...I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born. I will be your God THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFETIME-UNTIL YOUR HAIR IS WHITE WITH AGE. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you' (Isaiah 46:3-4 NLT). What an insurance policy! But, is there any real proof that He does? Well, Yes, just ask the Psalmist. 'Once I was YOUNG, and now I am OLD. Yet I have NEVER seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread' (Psalm 37:25 NLT). SAINTS, GOD SAYS WHAT HE MEANS, AND MEANS WHAT HE SAYS! THEREFORE, IF HE PROMISED IT, HE WILL PERFORM IT!

The secret of aging well is staying young at heart, staying close to God, and staying fully engaged with life. Believe it or not, the mirror isn't your problem; how you see yourself is!

 

Have you noticed how 'young' some older people are, and how 'old' their peers seem? Seeking the elusive fountain of youth isn't the answer, nor is surrendering to time and fate. Rather, do these two things:

FIRST, BE REALISTIC! Nothing is sillier than a woman made up to recreate what she hasn't been for decades - except an older man in an unbuttoned shirt flashing jewelry intended to recreate the macho image of a lost youth! When you are comfortable with your age and stage of life, others will be too. Solomon points out that age decreases vigor, dims vision, slackens muscles, stiffens joints, whitens hair, and so on: (Ecclesiastes 12:1-5, “Honor and enjoy your Creator while you’re still young, Before the years take their toll and your vigor wanes, Before your vision dims and the world blurs And the winter years keep you close to the fire. In old age, your body no longer serves you so well. Muscles slacken, grip weakens, joints stiffen. The shades are pulled down on the world. You can’t come and go at will. Things grind to a halt. The hum of the household fades away. You are wakened now by bird-song. Hikes to the mountains are a thing of the past. Even a stroll down the road has its terrors. Your hair turns apple-blossom white, Adorning a fragile and impotent matchstick body. Yes, you’re well on your way to eternal rest, While your friends make plans for your funeral.” MSG). Nope, that doesn’t sound very encouraging at all! Nothing about that screams ‘growing old gracefully’. However, it is a truth! You need to accept that what you looked like at 20 will be very different then 40 and different again at 60 and 80. And that’s ok! Be Realistic! You age, and so does your body!  But does that mean life is over? FAR FROM IT! Vitamins, exercise and a good attitude and good diet help, but you must still be realistic in order to handle aging with dignity. 

SECONDLY, KEEP GIVING! 'Be generous; invest in acts of charity. Charity yields high returns. Don't hoard your goods; spread them around. Be a blessing to others...' (Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 MSG). Don't stop investing your energy and resources into God's Kingdom because you think it's time for the young folk to take over. If you do that, loneliness and depression will set in, and illness and death soon follow. When you shut the door, draw the curtains and isolate yourself, you're old at any age! But when you stay in the mainstream, give yourself to God and others, you'll stay young, at heart, all your life!

Ageing well also Requires that you STAY FLEXIBLE. The Bible says, 'Rain clouds always bring rain; trees always stay wherever they fall. If you worry about the weather and don't plant seeds, you won't harvest a crop' (Ecclesiastes 11:3-4 CEV). Listen, certain things are simply inevitable in life. Clouds bring the rain. Trees fall in a storm. Like the weather, circumstances arise that you can't control. Hazard-free living is a myth; every undertaking entails risk. 'If you dig a pit, you might fall in; if you break down a wall, a snake might bite you. You could even get hurt by chiseling a stone or chopping a log' (Ecclesiastes 10:8-9 CEV). You say, 'At my age, I play it safe and take no chances.' However, avoiding risk guarantees missing what God has for you just ahead!

So how can you enjoy the final years of your life?  

DON'T AVOID; RATHER, ADJUST, ADAPT AND ADVANCE. But be practical; pace yourself! Will things take longer to do than when you were younger? Yes, your energy level may require more frequent breaks, but your advanced years allow you more time and less hurry than your frantic past. Slow down; embrace this opportunity to accomplish things you've never attempted.

 

Think about it: In his eighties, Rubinstein amazed audiences with his piano-playing skills. Gladstone became Britain's Prime Minister for the fourth time IN HIS EIGHTIES! John Wesley preached every day till he died at age 88! Moses led Israel at age 120! Caleb led his troops against an army of giants at 80, and won! Two-thirds of the world's greatest works of art were accomplished by people over age 65! SO DON’T LET A LITTLE RAIN, A FALLING TREE OR A POSSIBLE RISK STOP YOU! SOME OF YOUR GREATEST SEASONS COME WHEN YOU BECOME SEASONED! SO DETERMINE DAILY TO GROW OLD...GRACEFULLY!

Seniors, don't let fear dominate your latter years! Don't let life's 'unknowables', such as finances, health, loneliness, loss of friends and family members, get you down. The Bible says, 'Just as you’ll never understand the mystery of life forming in a pregnant woman, So you’ll never understand the mystery at work in all that God does' (Ecclesiastes 11:5 MSG). There's much in life you'll never know, YET GOD HAS BROUGHT YOU THIS FAR! So, 'Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life...' (Proverbs 3:5-8 MSG). It's WHO, not what, you know that will prosper and protect you all of your days! Put the unknown into God's hand and trust Him with your worries. 'Sow your seed in the morning [your youthful years] and do not be idle in the evening [your older years]' because your evening and your morning sowing 'will succeed... both of them alike will be good.' (Ecclesiastes 11:6 NASB).  

ACTIVATE, DON'T VEGETATE! 

The word “Vegetate” means “to live or spend a period of time in a dull, inactive, unchallenging way.” And surely you didn’t survive all the years you have, through all the mess you have to simply exist in a dull, inactive and unchallenging way of life! One of the things my father told me from a very young age was when it’s his time to go, let him go! He would always say if the machines have to live for me, I’m not living at all! I’m simply existing like an extension cord attached to an outlet that gives limited power! Likewise, whether you’re fabulously 40, fiercely 50, sexy 60, superbly 70, extraordinary 80, knock-out 90 or even wonderful 100, Refuse To Exist, And Instead, Choose to LIVE! “...I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till overflows).” (John 10:10 AMP). Or in the words of The Message Bible: “...I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” Seniors, Decide to Rejoice Every Day! “Celebrate God All Day, Every Day…” (Philippians 4:4 MSG).

General MacArthur said, 'Years may wrinkle the skin, but giving up interest wrinkles the soul. When the wires are down and your heart is covered with the snows of pessimism and icy cynicism, then and only then, have you grown old.' So Determine to Add Joy to the Gift of Long Life! 

Let’s take a look at Ecclesiastes 11:8 in various translations:

“Even though people may live for many years, THEY SHOULD ENJOY EVERY ONE OF THEM…” (GW).

“Yes, if a man should live many years, LET HIM REJOICE IN THEM ALL…” (AMP).

“Even if you live to a ripe old age, YOU SHOULD TRY TO ENJOY EACH DAY…” (CEV)

“BE GRATEFUL FOR EVERY YEAR YOU LIVE. NO MATTER HOW LONG YOU LIVE…” (GNT).

“However many years anyone may live, LET THEM ENJOY THEM ALL…” (NIV)

“When people live to be very old, LET THEM REJOICE IN EVERY  DAY OF LIFE.” (NLT)

“Oh, how sweet the light of day, And how wonderful to live in the sunshine! Even if you live a long time, DON'T TAKE A SINGLE DAY FOR GRANTED. TAKE DELIGHT IN EACH LIGHT-FILLED HOUR…” (MSG)

Are you starting to get the Message Yet?! LIVE, for however long, and enjoy each and every day to the fullest, not taking one for granted!

Now, it’s sad that I must say this, but I must, our culture venerates rock stars and sports figures, YET OFTEN MARGINALIZES ITS MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE AND SEASONED PEOPLE! How foolish! AS GOD'S FAMILY, WE SHOULD TREAT ONE ANOTHER ACCORDING TO HIS VALUES! AND HE MOST CERTAINLY HIGHLY VALUES THE ELDERLY!

Consider how He wants us to regard our Elderly:

First, WE MUST HONOR THEM: 'STAND UP IN THE PRESENCE OF THE AGED, SHOW RESPECT FOR THE ELDERLY AND REVERE YOUR GOD. I AM THE LORD.' (Leviticus 19:32 NIV).  

NOTICE: IT'S A COMMANDMENT, NOT AN OPTION! FAILING TO RESPECT THE ELDERLY IS FAILING TO RESPECT GOD; IT BEARS THE DIVINE, NOT THE CULTURAL SIGNATURE! 

So remember it and teach it to your children. 'GRAY HAIR IS LIKE A CROWN OF HONOR; IT IS EARNED BY LIVING A GOOD LIFE' (Proverbs 16:31 NCV). This is what GOD thinks of the Elderly AND YET WE ALLOW CHILDREN TO CURSE AND TALK DISRESPECTFULLY TO THEM, AROUND THEM AND ABOUT THEM! WE ALLOW TEENAGERS TO SIT ON A BUS, WHILE A CANE TOTING GRANDMOTHER STRUGGLES TO HOLD ON TO A BAR SHE CAN BARELY REACH! WE HAVE NOT PROPERLY PROTECTED THEM AGAINST THE VIOLENCE OF RAPE (AS SICK AS IT IS, IT IS STILL BEING CARRIED OUT EVEN AGAINST THE ELDERLY)! AND EVEN ROBBERY!  I COULDN'T TOUCH A PENNY ON MY GRANDMAMA'S DRESSER WITHOUT PERMISSION AND YET PEOPLE HAVE THE LOW DISREGARD TO ROB THE ELDERLY FOR THE LITTLE MONEY THEY HAVE SAVED! THE ELDERLY ARE EVEN GIVEN MERE CRUMBS TO LIVE ON AFTER GIVING HALF THEIR LIFE TO EMPLOYMENTS AND THE OTHER HALF TO RAISING FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES! 

AND YET THESE ARE THE VERY SAME PEOPLE THAT GOD SAYS: "STAND UP IN THE PRESENCE OF THE AGED, SHOW RESPECT FOR THE ELDERLY…”  

How did we get here?! What a sad commentary, whether saved or unsaved, that we’ve allowed the Respect for Our Elderly, the Ones in which GOD Himself Holds in such High Esteem, to so Carelessly Fall So Very Low! 

Do you know that the majority of hit and runs and busy intersections are mostly Elderly Victims? I wonder if it’s because we stand right next to them at the stoplight and don’t help them across the street! Today, determine to be more conscious of our Elderly. Give them a seat, help them across the street, ask if you can carry their bags, or even more personal, look them in the eyes, smile, and tell them, “I Value Your Life”!

Second, WE MUST ENCOURAGE THEM: AND KEEP IN MIND, ENCOURAGING THEM DOESN'T MEAN PATRONIZING, BABYING, OR DOING EVERYTHING FOR THEM! YOU DON'T ENCOURAGE THEM BY ROBBING THEM OF THEIR DIGNITY! THEY ARE NOT INVALIDS! THEY ARE NOT INCAPACITATED! 

My mother-in-law has crossed over into the extraordinary 80's club, and yet she still hops on a bus to get to where she needs to go, and even walked to work and crossed generations of children which she’s been doing for almost 40 years, until her retirement this year! So by no means assume that seniors have no life left in them! 

These behaviors destroy their dignity and disempower them. 

Encouraging them means believing in their God-given abilities and emphasizing their positive, productive qualities. It means motivating them to stay involved in significant service, not just busying them with meaningless and humiliating mundane tasks. 

They feel like they're making a difference when their skills and wisdom are recognized. 

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.” (Henry Ford).  

Furthermore, stop throwing a hat on them, and sticking them on the first pew like antiques! Let them teach, preach, cook, be a part of the choir (and that’s not just the sanctuary choir either)! Let them on the liturgical dance ministry, you just might be amazed how many moves grandma’s still got!  

I think Oliver Wendell Holmes said it best: “To be seventy years young is sometimes far more cheerful and hopeful than to be forty years old.” 

Remember: Encourage them, Don’t Under-Estimate Them!

Third, WE MUST SUPPORT THEM: This includes financial and material assistance offered according to practical, biblical guidelines (1 Timothy 5:1-16). Failing here means we've '... denied the faith and [are] worse than an unbeliever' (v. 8 NKJV). Support means including them as a vital part of our family and church activities. Supporting them also requires that we regularly talk to God about them and their needs. Far too often we talk about and sing about the prayers of mama and grandma, BUT IT'S HIGH TIME THEY GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK AND SING ABOUT THE PRAYERS OF THEIR CHILDREN FOR THEIR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS! Just like we made it through on mama’s prayers, MAMA WILL MAKE IT THROUGH ON OURS!

Live your life to the fullest as you Grow Old Gracefully, HOWEVER, DON'T FORGET ABOUT THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY GROWN OLD...GRACEFULLY!

TAKE CARE OF OUR ELDERLY THE SAME AS YOU WOULD WANT THE YOUNGER GENERATION TO TAKE CARE OF YOU!

Much Love, Dr.Shermaine #InformativeRead #PleaseShare #HealthyBodySoulAndSpirit

"It's Not Selfish to Love Yourself, Take Care of Yourself and to Make Your Happiness a Priority. It's a Necessity." (Mandy Hale)

"Self-Care is Not Selfish. You Cannot Serve From an Empty Vessel." (Eleanor Brown)