From Agile to Fragile

Dear Friends,
Bonnie and I are going through what we refer to as “geriatric puberty.” We’re moving from agile to fragile and we don’t like it a bit. Like us, you may be just waking to the reality of getting older. Alernately, you may be younger than we and think of aging as a “tomorrow” concern. Others may be much older, able to look back at a whole series of unwelcomed changes. Whichever, sooner or later we all see the truth in Bette Davis’ assessment: “Getting old isn’t for sissies.”

We don’t have a lot of control over the changes we must face. We do, however, have control over the attitude with which we confront the changes. We can choose to mourn what was, or we can choose to make the most of what will be. Let me illustrate. When we first met a (now) 95-year young dear friend, we asked her how she liked being in assisted living. She responded, “It was a change, but they feed me, keep my room clean, and offer plenty of activities. What’s not to love?”

Each Saturday at the close of our chapel service, our friend assures us, “I’ll see you next week if I’m still here.” When she says, “If I’m still here,” she means, “If God hasn’t called me home.” She squeezes as much life as she can from each day, confident that whatever trouble she encounters is little more than a bump in the road that is leading her to heaven. A Bible verse that seems to apply to our amazing friend’s attitude is found in Lamentations.

The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.
So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD. Lamentations 3:25-26 (NLT)

In contrast, another acquaintance of ours (to remain unnamed) isn’t nearly as positive. Nothing seems to please her. It’s as if she is decaying emotionally. To her, every bump in the road is a boulder. What’s the difference? I would suggest that Eiko has something special: her attitude is shaped by the spirit of God living within her. But it is the spirit in a person that gives him understanding.

It is the breath of God All-Powerful in him. Job 32:8 (ICB)

Continue to Grow
From agile to fragile, it happened so fast.
It’s hard to believe how quickly years passed.
We’re superannuated, but we want you to know:
So long as we’re green, we’ll continue to grow.
We’ll grow and we’ll flourish with faith in the Lord,
Sustained by the promises found in His Word.

If you are looking for some spiritual nourishment to help you to grow in the Lord, you may appreciate the following Scriptures.

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.
They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green,
proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”
Psalm 92:12-15 (NIV)

Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life. Proverbs 16:31 (NLT)

Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31 (NIV)

“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness. So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9b (NLT)

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:13-14 (NLT)

The encouraging words below were taken from the book Mi Vida by Jose N. Harris.

Blessings,
Your Friends in Christ