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Appreciating the Aging Process By Graemme Marshall There are challenges for an older person. But getting old isn't the end. It is, in fact, a new venture that only the elderly can appreciate.
ut the godly will flourish like palm trees... Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green" (Psalm 92:12,14, New Living Translation). The opportunity for older people is a new level of learning Psalm 92 is positively encouraging: Part of the blessing of being among the godly is that older people are able to find a new goal for this critical stage of life, becoming productive and fruitful. Instead of focusing on time running out, it is more positive to make the most of each day. There are different priorities when time is shorter. The story of the aggressive young salesman trying to sell an insurance policy to a ninety-five-year-old man illustrates this -- despite polite refusal from the elderly gentleman, the young man still persisted. Finally the old man said, "Look, young fellow, you don't seem to understand. At my age, I don't even buy green bananas." If every day is welcomed with a joy for God's Truth, you'll never feel too old. You will just keep on growing. Contrasting the last days of David and his friend Barzillai
By contrast, David had no peaceful end. At 70, he was surrounded by palace succession intrigues, plagued by body circulation problems and had a stranger tending him rather than his wife (1 Kings 1:1-2). He records in a Psalm how he endured insincere flattery, disease problems and disloyal former friends (Psalm 41:5-9). Some of us will face our last days somewhere between the experiences of Barzillai and David. What does God intend for us to learn from the aging process? We try to counter aging's effects with light-hearted banter. Popular seniors' anecdotes illustrate this: "When I bend down to tie up my shoes, I look around to see what else can be done while I'm down there," "These days, my back goes out more than I do," or, "When I go downstairs to get something, I often wonder whether I'm coming or going." It is important to keep a positive, humorous outlook on aging because God designed the process. It's not the act of a vengeful God, but a loving one. Positives to appreciate Aging brings maturity and mellowing, born from experience. There is a digestion of life and an assimilation of loss and grief. There is the realization of Job, who said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21). Paul explained, "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out" (1 Timothy 6:7). The aged have absorbed the blows and wounds of life. Some heal, some scar. The mature no longer feel they must protect some unnecessarily inflexible position. Maturity means composure, with less exuberance or depression. The mature years bring a greater sense of being in control of life. There may be a desire to feel young, but not to be young again. They have too much self-control, ease of interpersonal relations and self-confidence to trade for a youthful mindset again. Men in maturity
Women in maturity While younger women are often vulnerable and dependent on their husbands, mature women are no longer preoccupied by the responsibilities of family life. When children are grown up and leave home, older women have renewed energy to reassess and modify their life. Many women look anew at the positives of their husbands and at their own personal appearance. They are more settled in what they like and dislike. They no longer feel the need to fit in with every fashion, knowing now what best suits them personally. Many develop careers for the first time, or pick up from where they left off when parenthood began. Grand parenting experiences bring pleasure without parental strains. Giving up driving
The dangers of falls In 2005, traumatic brain injuries resulting from falls caused nearly 8,000 deaths and 56,000 hospital visits among Americans 65 and older. Statistics show most older adults do not exercise regularly, and 35% over 65 do not participate in any physical leisure activity. "If a person lives in a very cluttered home with telephone cords across the room, loose rugs, etc.," says the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence, "these things are hazards." Falling isn't an inevitable part of the aging process, and there are ways to avoid succumbing to a nasty, or expensive, spill. If you break a hip and end up in a nursing home, very frequently the fracture suffered will keep you in bed. In very bad cases, some never get up again. Aged concerns at home
Insecurity over future health costs Because of age, health insurance restrictions come into force while age-related health conditions continue. The best options for dental, eye, ear and other health needs may now become out of reach financially. Mobility problems and perhaps wheelchairs or walking canes enter your life. And what about winter and walking on ice? Getting in and out of a vehicle also becomes more of a chore. Concerns at church
Concerns for prayer and study
An aged opportunity Reconciliation opportunities always exist, but we often procrastinate and let them slip by. It is of little help to others to wish you'd have said something to make up for a past mistake. Have you heard people say after the death of a loved one, "I wish I'd said such and such to them before they went"? Each day is a window of opportunity to help correct any past mistakes. The mellowing of age equips you to forgo pride in favor of doing the right thing. The aged have a realization of how temporally close they might be to the Kingdom of God. They stand on the brink of eternity. They have a sense of daily urgency to be closer to God; to be concerned how their Christian works might be viewed and judged. The final heartbeat is not an end -- but a grand beginning. Further reading For other interesting reading like this, request your free subscription to the Good News Magazine. Copyright 2010 by United Church of God, an International Association All rights reserved. |
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