Since my birthday is this week, and I had a “milestone” birthday last year, I’ve been thinking about aging.
My husband and I often remark that we don’t feel “old” (“old,” to me, has always been about twenty years beyond where I am now). We might tire a little more easily and have a plethora of aches and pains. But looking closely in the mirror often yields unpleasant surprises. When did that happen?
Seeing my mother-in-law through her last ten years of life brought up a long list of concerns about what we’ll face as we age. I once heard a preacher say that one reason our bodies start to fail us as we get older is so that we’ll be more willing to let loose of them. Each year reminds us that we’re in a temporary habitation.
But probably what most concerns me about aging is not being taken seriously any more, being thought of as out of touch or irrelevant.
On the other hand, there are perks to getting older. I’m more settled in my own skin. I’ve wrestled through questions and problems. Hopefully I’ve gained some wisdom through the years.
I wish Elisabeth Elliot had written a book on aging. She was my mentor-from-afar since my college days and helped me prepare for womanhood, marriage, motherhood, and Christian life and service. I did just discover that she had a series about aging on her radio program. I might spend my birthday week listening to those.
But I found in my files of her old e-mail devotionals an excerpt from her book On Asking God Why titled “Happy Birthday—You’re Heading Home.” She writes what she would say to an old friend on her birthday. The last few paragraphs encourage me:
You’ve heard those bad news/good news jokes. Well, this isn’t cheap birthday card humor. The bad news is that another year has gone by and we haven’t done all we meant to do and it’s not going to come back to give us another chance. The good news is the Gospel. We can be reconciled to God–sins forgiven, fears taken care of. That old cross, the emblem of suffering and shame, stands between us and our sins and fears, our past and future, and on its outstretched arms we see Love. The Love that would die for us is the Love that lives for us–Jesus Christ, Lord, Master, Savior of the World, wanting to give you (for your birthday if you’ll take it) something that will really quench your thirst, rivers among the sand dunes and wells in the valley; wanting to hold your hand, help you, give you–not only a happy birthday, but everlasting joy.
I’m not the least bit bashful about telling my age. I’m glad for every birthday that comes, because it is the Lord, my faithful Guide, who “summoned the generations from the beginning.” I look in the mirror and see the increasingly (and creasingly) visible proofs of the number of years, but I’m reconciled. Christ reconciles me to God and to God’s wonderful plan. My life is his life. My years are his years. To me life is Christ, and death is nothing but gain. When I remember that, I really can’t think of a thing I ought to be afraid of. I can’t be sorry I’m a year older and nearer to absolute bliss.
I pray for you on your birthday, that your path, as is promised to the just man, will shine not less and less but more and more; that you will still bring forth fruit in old age; that the Lord will give you a thankful heart like the psalmist’s who sang,
O God, thou hast taught me from boyhood,
all my life I have proclaimed thy marvellous works:
and now that I am old and my hairs are gray,
forsake me not, O God….
Songs of joy shall be on my lips;
I will sing thee psalms, because thou has redeemed me.
All day long my tongue shall tell of thy righteousness.
(Psalms 71:17, 18, 23, 24 NEB)
So–happy birthday! If you have friends and parties and presents, be thankful for such bonuses. If you have no friends with you today, no party, not a package to open, you still have a long list of things to thank God for, things that matter much more. A birthday filled with thanksgiving and hope is the happiest kind of birthday. Have one of those! Deck yourself with joy!
I agree with Elisabeth and Paul that “to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21) and that heaven will be bliss. But I am encouraged that many through Scripture pleaded for more years of this life in which to serve and praise the Lord.
Elisabeth quoted the first part of Psalm 71:18. The whole verse, along with 17, stood out to me as I read it recently:
So even to old age and gray hairs,
O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
your power to all those to come.
That’s what I want to do with as many days as God gives me.
(I often link up with some of these bloggers.)
Stray Thoughts 
Early Happy Happy Birthday! Celebrate all week! 🙂 My Mama always said she wouldn’t be old until she hit 100 years. She passed away a week before her 92nd birthday in 2013, so she was never old. 🙂 Have a blessed week! 🙂
Thanks so much. Your mom’s idea is a great one!
Age is only a number
Amen! Loved the poem and some of my favorite Scripture references. Happy Birthday precious sister-in-Christ. I agree with your pastor friend, in that as we get older, the easier it becomes to let go of this life and embrace our coming eternal one. While it began at our re-birth, I too look forward to the day when my glorified body and soul reunite. I focus more these days on how God will use me in His kingdom than I worry about the time when He brings me home. God’s blessings my friend.
Thanks so much, JD. I agree–how God uses our days is more important than how many of them we have.
Five star, Barbara — just outstanding! Will share in our Bible study at the nursing home. Thank you!
Five star, Barbara, just outstanding! Will share at our nursing-home Bible study. Thank you!
Thanks so much, Kitty!
I hope you have a wonderful birthday week, Barbara! It is a strange feeling to be considered in the “older” camp now. I agree that old always feels another 20 years beyond me. 🙂 I’m glad there are some benefits of aging to counteract some of those aches and pains that I feel daily.
Thanks so much, Lisa. It really does feel strange to be considered “older” these days. I was just talking with someone else about another plus–senior discounts! We’ve only had a couple, at the hair stylist and a science museum. But I’ll take them!
Happy birthday!!! Gotta love EE and her to-the-point observations. It does help to look at each birthday as “nearer to absolute bliss.” It’s probably part of my introspective nature that I do contemplate getting older and dying—more than I should I am sure. These thoughts were helpful. It’s strange to me in so many ways to think of how I’m now considered an “older person,” that happened so quickly!
It does indeed seem to have happened so quickly! In some ways I feel my age, in other ways it doesn’t seem possible.
Happy birthday, Barbie. Your blog seemed to be very timely to me as my b’day is also approaching, and we also just had a small get together for a graduation. AC, Sandy, Tom, Jim, Me, …so much gray hair there!! A liked the thought of the body’s was of preparing us to let go. Something strangely comforting in that. Have a great birthday.
So good to see you here! Happy birthday!!! I wish we could get together with all the TX family some time.
Happy birthday!
Spot on. My dad was a pastor too. He said something like your pastor that our graying hair was God’s reminder to get ready for him. “One reason our bodies start to fail us as we get older is so that we’ll be more willing to let loose of them.”
Outwardly wasting away,
inwardly being renewed.
Glory ahead.
I love your summary! Thanks for the birthday wishes. I had a lovely time.
I love EE’s thoughts on aging—so scriptural and realistic.
I realized this week that when I dream, I am always my younger self. So I guess I am with you in my surprise at finding myself “older!”
That’s interesting about being younger in your dreams. I don’t remember my dreams much, but I don’t think I’ve been younger in them—I’ll have to pay attention next time.
Barbara, I always appreciate your wisdom. I, too, am not shy about sharing my birthday. I remember friends and classmates in grade school and high school who did not live to adulthood, and surely they would have loved to have a beautiful yet imperfect life now. I keep their faces in mind when I’m tempted to complain. Grateful for your voice on this subject, and I wish Elisabeth had written a book on this too! Maybe YOU are the one God wants to write on this subject, friend!
Thanks so much, Sarah. Both my parents passed away at close to this age, and that seemed so young to me. I wish they had lived longer and seen my kids grow up and met my daughter-in-law and grandson, but that evidently wasn’t God’s plan. I hope to live much longer, even with aches and pains. 🙂
I don’t know about writing on this subject, at least a whole book–I think I have a lot more aging to do first. 🙂 But then, by the time I feel like I’d have some wisdom to share, it might be too late to be able to express it.
A lovely post Barbara. I love Elizabeth’s wisdom & the following Psalm;
“So even to old age and gray hairs,
O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
your power to all those to come.” Amen!
Visiting from Joanne’s table today where we’re sitting next to each other enjoying a cuppa together 😊
Blessings, Jennifer
Barabara, I have read this blog with a lot of attention and pleasure. I wish there were more of such blog posts written. It makes me hopeful, happy, and brings me closer to God and the Bible. So, thank you, and I wish you God’s blessings from the Netherlands. United in Christ, 📖🙏🌟
Aritha
Happy Birthday! I know Betty White said the same thing about never feeling old… but I do wonder if it’s more of a mind thing since other young people to seem to complain about feeling so old when they’re really not. Whatever you’re doing; keep on doing it!
Excellent thoughts, dear friend. It is hard to believe we are as old as we are! The verses you use and the quotes from EE are such a comfort.
Hope you had a wonderful birthday celebration! These verses are among my favorites, reminding me that God will be faithful to me for as long as I live, and that as long as I live my purpose is to glorify him.
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Happy belated Birthday Barbara! I’m an August baby too.
Thanks bunches for sharing your insights and aging encouragement with Sweet Tea & Friends this month.