“The glory of young men is their strength, And the honor of old men is their gray hair” (Proverbs 20:29, NASB).

She is younger than I but moved slowly with the consequences of age.

 “I’m doing okay; my other doctor told me I was just getting old.”

 “I know what you feel,” I responded. “My mother used to say that getting old was not for sissies.”

 She followed, “My granddaddy surprised us one day—‘cause he never cussed. He said, ‘There’s nothing wrong with getting older, It’s just so d…d inconvenient.’”

I honestly don’t know what the word “old” means anymore. When we measure our days against the eternity that is ours, we are all spring chickens.

We experience so many seasons in our lives, and we enter each one with more years under our belts.

Each season has its challenges, each its purpose under God.

I used to think people my age were old. Now that label is farther off. I now have grandkids, but I’m still able to wrestle and run with them. Someday I will not.

As we grow older, we often have more discomfort than when we were young, but we also have so many advantages.

We have loved so many people so much longer.

We have learned from so many mistakes.

We have refined our understanding of God and now know Him best for His wisdom, power, love and grace.

We’ve been able to catch small glimpses where God has worked through our lives to grow or strengthen His kingdom. We can live in gratitude that in some ways He has accomplished His purpose through our being alive and being His.

We have failed Him often, but with years of failure we have grown confident in His forgiveness and learned to offer the same to others.

We now know loved ones who are waiting for us in heaven, making that future journey a joy rather than a heartbreak.

We are not dead yet and can look forward to continued service with skills He has given us a lifetime to build. As Paul stated, “If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me” (Philippians 1:22a, NIV).

Getting older may be inconvenient in some ways, but it is so darn beautiful in others.

Dear God,

Thank you for this present season of my life that you have planned for your service and glory.

Amen