Aging Faithfully. Missy Buchanan

      Gracious God, sometimes I feel like an old-timer stuck in a bygone era. I confess I am afraid of . . .

      Grant me courage to trust you and to keep leaning forward in life. Amen.

      Suggestion

      Select a task or a piece of technology that intimidates you, something you have been afraid to learn. Ask a family member or friend to teach you more about it. Celebrate your effort to learn. At the same time, make note of those timeless, Christlike qualities you hope to exemplify. Make a list of ten of those qualities and post it in your room. Review the list each day this week.

       TUESDAY Losing interest in life

      Read Psalm 42:5.

      The older man had loved sports for as long as he could remember. He often wondered how many games he had played and watched over the span of his long life. Lately, though, his enthusiasm for sporting events had begun to dwindle. Instead of cheering his favorite team, he often stared mindlessly at a blank television screen. Silently he wondered what happened to his passion for sports. Even more unsettling, he began to think of growing old as some sort of punishment.

      Maybe you also have found your mood spiraling down as you have aged. You shudder at the thought of losing your vitality and independence. Activities and pursuits you used to enjoy now seem mundane, even lackluster. You are not the first to feel this way. If your outlook on life has worsened as you have aged, consider the blessings you would have missed if you had not lived a long life. Then give thanks to God.

      Old age is not a punishment but a divine gift. Your life experiences have enriched you beyond measure. Your life brims with countless memories, relationships, stories, and images. Now is not the time to unplug from life. Invite a new passion to settle into your thoughts. God can restore a brighter outlook as you look forward to a new day.

      Prayer

      Heavenly Father, take away the dimness of my soul. I confess that I have allowed . . .

      to steal my enthusiasm for living. Ignite a passion within me. Reawaken me to your presence. Where there is grayness, let me see color. Enable me to find purpose in living where there seems to be none. Amen.

      Suggestion

      Be intentional in your effort to rekindle your passion for living. Begin the new day by noticing all the colors outside your window. Be mindful of the many shades and hues. Ponder God’s creation. Read a book about a subject you have never before explored. Play a new board game with a grandchild or friend. Ask a neighbor to tell you a story about her childhood.

       WEDNESDAY Same inside

      Read Ecclesiastes 3:11-12.

      A woman looks into a full-length mirror and sees a stranger. How odd that her outside appearance does not match her inside feelings. She studies her face, how it sags. She looks at her wrinkled hands speckled with age spots. But somehow she feels much the same inside as she did at age twenty.

      She still loves big band music, historic lighthouses, and strawberry shortcake, just as she did when she was much younger. It is only when she sees her reflection or feels the pain of arthritis that she remembers she is growing old.

      Aging is a curious phenomenon. How do you know when you are old? There is no definitive line in the sand. You don’t cross a boundary one day and—poof !—you are suddenly old. No, aging happens gradually, a process that begins at birth and lasts a lifetime. Somewhere along the journey, you begin to notice that your eyes struggle to read the small print. Your knees stiffen when you sit too long. But even as another milestone birthday goes by, you feel the same on the inside.

      One fact is certain. If you put your trust in your physical body, eventually you will be betrayed. Though antiaging products and procedures may slow the aging process or at least its evidence, they cannot save you from physical decline. That is why you need to anchor your life in something that won’t deteriorate over time. That is why you so desperately need God.

      Prayer

      Ever-loving God, I am grateful that even though my body has changed over time, you will never change. I thank you for creating me as a person with unique gifts and desires like . . .

      Help me to care for my body appropriately but to resist putting my faith in flesh and bones. Teach me to trust you as I age, for you are Creator of my ageless soul. Amen.

      Suggestion

      In what ways do you feel like you did when you were younger? What still delights you even though your physical body has changed? If you love to travel but can’t take long trips, immerse yourself in travel books. Surf the Internet; watch travel shows on TV. Find ways to enjoy the interests and pursuits you always loved. Adapt the method when necessary. Rejoice in all that makes you unique.

       THURSDAY Weary arms

      Read Isaiah 40:30-31.

      Your arms are getting tired. After decades of toting groceries and the week’s garbage, now there are days when it’s all you can do to summon the energy to open a jug of milk. Sometimes your hands tremble as if they have a mind of their own. You make yourself exercise each morning, honoring the biblical mandate to care for your body. Though exercise undoubtedly is beneficial, you realize your physical strength will never be what it once was.

      Over the course of your long life, you have sometimes felt it was up to you to carry the burdens of the world. You struggled to push through pressured days on your own power. At those moments you forgot just how much you needed God. Now you admit you are tired of trying to be strong.

      The truth is, God never tires. God’s arms are always extended to you. God will never grow weary of lifting you up and carrying you through hard times.

      Though your body grows weaker as more years pass, your faith can grow stronger. It is a truth contrary to the ways of the world. Real strength comes when you confess your weakness and lean on God.

      Prayer

      Almighty God, forgive me for trying to be strong on my own. I used to think that it was up to me to carry the weight of . . .

      Please increase my faith as I lean on your strength. Encourage me to avoid a sedentary lifestyle as I am able. Today I will exercise and move forward with your help. Amen.

      Suggestion

      If you are not already exercising, begin today by walking and doing some strength-building exercises. Just squeezing a ball builds arm and hand muscles. Don’t neglect to exercise your spiritual muscles too. Memorize Isaiah 40:31.