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Growing Old

“Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob, all the remnant of the people of Israel, you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. (Isaiah 46:3-4)

 

I was wrong. Biblegateway.com isn’t focusing on what different groups need to be taught. It’s focusing on the old. Like a lot of people, I struggle with seeing myself as old unless I’m seeing or dealing with my body: looking in the mirror, being careful about where I put my feet, or dealing with joints that want to complain. Sitting here keyboarding, I’m as young as I was 20 years ago, but not as young as I was forty or more years ago when I was physically stronger but more inwardly naïve (to use a politer term for it.)

And I admit, sometimes I think maybe I missed my chance. If God was going to use me for anything, it wouldn’t be now. It would have been back when I first got my MBA, or when I worked at the County Courthouse.  Or even when I was helping lead a big Bible study, some part of the DAR or of Toastmasters. Yes, those were during my naïve time, but then my world was much larger. I had more energy.

Now, my world has narrowed, sometimes down to my gardens, book, or dog. But what God told Israel is consistent with God’s character. He doesn’t abandon people or nations because they grow old. We do not become worthless on our 60th, 70th, or 80th birthday

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