Monday, May 4, 2009

Aging gracefully? Not me!!!

I found this picture on a friend's blog and had to laugh! This is me trying to teach the boys soccer!!! Ok, maybe I'm not quite that old, but some days it sure feels like it!!!! But there's also a real truth in this picture and phrase. I know several friends who are my age or younger but act like really OLD people. How sad. Each day we all have a choice to make: will we choose to rejoice that this is the day Papa made, or will we complain about our aches and pains and choose to be miserable? Hmmm. Now let me think about this a minute....OK that's long enough. I choose to rejoice. I've had problems in my life....I'm a multiple cancer survivor, had a near fatal accident at age 18 (not my fault....other driver wasn't watching the road and ran right over my car), years of braces, therapy, meds and doctor's vists, I've buried dreams, children and family members, been beat up, accosted, and had a gun put to my head. But ya know what? Papa watched out for me in each and every instance. Sure, there were times (more than I like to admit to) when I yelled and ranted that Papa wasn't being fair! But with time, His patience and love, I've come to see that many times what I wanted was NOT the best for me at that period of time. So I choose to rejoice in each and every day. Do I enjoy being stuck inside all day with an overly active wormy boy because it's raining???? Who are you kidding?!!!! I threatened to call the Salvation Army to come get him last week if he didn't calm himself!!!!! But even on those days, I'm thankful (perhaps a little grudingly) that he's healthy, active and bright. So do I need to 'act my age'? Goodness, NO! I don't advocate acting like a brainless teenie bopper. But just because the calendar says I'm a certain age and society says I should be pigeon holed into a certain behavior doesn't mean I have follow the rules. I'm old enough to be the parent of most of Little Critter's friend's parents...and yet they act older than I. What's wrong with that picture? Papa promised Moses 120 years of life. And when Joshua went into the Promised Land, he and Caleb were in their 80's but still as fit and strong as 20yo men. That's my goal. I want to be 80 years old and still dancing with my Papa, playing with my grandchildren, climbing trees, flying kites and working in my gardens. Age-you just back off! I'm choosing to rejoice in this day my Papa made. I pray you each choose to rejoice daily also. Even the hard times and travails serve a purpose....they make us more like our Savior, Yehsua (Jesus!). Kinda gives you a new perspective, huh. So thank Papa for those aches and pains....it means you're alive, it's not even close to what Yeshua suffered for you to have eternal life, and if it's that bad, it only has one way to go....up. So rejoice. Don't become old, be as a child rejoicing in the blessings you have. Shalom, Spitfire

3 comments:

Most Rev. Gregori said...

Spitfire, I have my own secret for staying young, ant that is to hang around kids, little ones and teenagers. No matter how old or achy I feel, when kids are around I feel like a teen again. That is why I love spending as much time as I can with my grandchildren.Children are God's Fountain of Youth.

Gayle said...

Strange that you should post that after what I said on my last post, Spitfire. One must always look on the bright side. And I want to inform everyone who sees this post that you don't look anything like that picture! Besides, you're still a youngster. :)

NoReply said...

Growing old disgracefully..... :0D

its what I do best!

There was a wonderful book (now sadly no longer in print) about a group of friends of various ages 65-90 and how they dealt with lazy, nagging husbands, incontinence, ambulatory flatulence (apparently a taboo subject) and indeed life in general...

one of the highlights for me was that they all went to a wedding - which they promptly deemed boring and so snuck off to the park next door and played on the swings....

.... so if I go mia - guess you now know where to look for me.... :0D