I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread – Psalm 37:25
“Grammy, being that you are older than Mom and Dad, what do you like the most about your age?” Junior asked sheepishly. “I love the way you delicately phrased your question, which I assume is homework for Sunday School,” Grammy responded with a smile. “How did you guess?” “Oh, it’s just one of the perks of getting up in age, the ability to read minds. Seriously, what I like the most about my age is recognizing that the slowing down cognitively and physically is God’s reminder to relax and enjoy life by not wasting it on unimportant matters.”
What I didn’t remember is likely what I should have forgotten a long time ago. This had been my recent theory as I pondered bouts of forgetfulness. That instead of seeing it as a negative element in the aging process, I should perceive it as one of the many perks. It makes me reliant on the Holy Spirit’s nudge to remind me of important matters. Also, recognizing how valuable time is and how it shouldn’t be wasted on trivial matters—those things that merit the idiom “not worth a hill of beans.” However, one of the greatest benefits is my agreement with David’s testimony regarding God’s faithfulness.
If you have reached the age that qualifies you for AARP, you can likely attest to these perks. However, if you haven’t arrived, then I encourage you to embrace your journey without the weight of what shouldn’t be carried by you, but by God.