Growing Old

June 8 often gets me thinking the inevitable- Growing Old.

Dissappointed wth a Harley Cake.
Should've been a Bike

Recently, a  friend in a similar situation, was relating of the time spent dividing between visiting children abroad or awaiting for that call from a loved one for that annual travel companionship. 

Another I know of, is often in despair, putting up with the belated financial support from his now grown up independent children, all of whom live  comfortable lives with families of their own. 

Yet another widowed, is resigned to an old folks home, having endless days fighting loneliness in a crowded home. 

One or all of the above could be a reality and its nightmarish in the case of a widow, widower, bachelor, spinster or a divorcee in the twilight of their years.

Psalm 71:17-21: 

17 God, You have taught me from my youth, And I still declare Your wondrous deeds. 18 And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to thisgeneration, Your power to all who are to come. 

19 For Your righteousness, O God, reaches to theheavens, You who have done great things ; O God, who is like You? 20 You who have shown memany troubles and distresses Will revive me again, And will bring me up again from the depths of the earth. 21 May You increase my greatness And turn to comfort me. 
Our senior years can be viewed as a pleasantly hapless era when we qualify for retirement benefits,

exhaust our EPF savings, senior discounts, hopeful for that invite from our children for visits, or frantically pre-plan travel itenary to suit another's and have a lot of time doing little. 

Or we can see them as a time of great opportunity to be used for God. There's so much left to do.

We can serve as mentors, teaching wisdom and virtue. Seniors can point to the ancient paths of holy living, okay lets not term it as that, perhaps the lessons learnt used to encourage young believers  (Psalm 71:18 & Jeremiah 6:16)

There is power in the example of an ordinary life lived with an awareness of God's presence - seeing Him in everything and doing all things for Him, in Him and through Him. 

This is the mark of the mature soul, quietly and humbly going about ordinary tasks, living in joy, and leaving behind the fragrance of Jesus' love.

Should our journey lead to illness and weakness, and we're confined to a wheelchair, our homes and eventually our beds, our years of fruitful service need not end here. We can still PRAY which is one of the special privileges of infirmity, or may be its greatest benefit.

Above all else, we can LOVE, our last and best gift to God and to humanity.

Mentoring, being a godly example, praying and loving are the opportunities of growing old with God.

A new found friend does just that with prayer texts at the crack of dawn. I am delighted. Time to pass the torch.

"We never retire from being useful to God"!