I ran across this recently and it really cheered me up. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be green and succulent.* I've been feeling a little creaky, and slow getting over an inconvenient medical issue. I'm frustrated that a day that would have been an energy builder when my children were younger leaves me ready for a nap after a good romp with grandchildren.
But God is so good. He pours experiences and learning and wisdom into our early years so when our body is slowing down, our spiritual resilience and discernment can keep on climbing. Oh, I still believe I have plenty more to learn as long as I have breath and I do sometimes grieve for the loss of a body that had more stamina; but still, I find getting older to be a delight at a slowly increasing rate...emphasis on slowly.
If you believe you are past your capacity to serve, please reconsider. If your health is frail you can use medical appointments as an opportunity to speak kindly and show mercy to everyone you meet from other patients and their caregivers to the staff and professionals. If you are frightened and upset about moving into a nursing home, to the best of your ability spend what energy you have being loving toward other patients and staff. If you have little or no family, be family to other folks you run into. If you don't get out much beyond the grocery store, seek opportunities to shine there or if someone brings the things you need to you, emphasize your appreciation rather than exhausting them with a diatribe on the unfairness of your situation. All of us can pray for others. If you can't think of anyone to pray for, check out the evening news and it is important for each of us to pray for ourselves.
In my mother's final months (a frail resident of a nursing home with plenty of challenges) she said she'd rather "go out expending her life rather than letting it dribble away." This she did and her example was a final extraordinary gift.
* Psalm 92:13
But God is so good. He pours experiences and learning and wisdom into our early years so when our body is slowing down, our spiritual resilience and discernment can keep on climbing. Oh, I still believe I have plenty more to learn as long as I have breath and I do sometimes grieve for the loss of a body that had more stamina; but still, I find getting older to be a delight at a slowly increasing rate...emphasis on slowly.
If you believe you are past your capacity to serve, please reconsider. If your health is frail you can use medical appointments as an opportunity to speak kindly and show mercy to everyone you meet from other patients and their caregivers to the staff and professionals. If you are frightened and upset about moving into a nursing home, to the best of your ability spend what energy you have being loving toward other patients and staff. If you have little or no family, be family to other folks you run into. If you don't get out much beyond the grocery store, seek opportunities to shine there or if someone brings the things you need to you, emphasize your appreciation rather than exhausting them with a diatribe on the unfairness of your situation. All of us can pray for others. If you can't think of anyone to pray for, check out the evening news and it is important for each of us to pray for ourselves.
In my mother's final months (a frail resident of a nursing home with plenty of challenges) she said she'd rather "go out expending her life rather than letting it dribble away." This she did and her example was a final extraordinary gift.
* Psalm 92:13
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