It Ain’t For Sissies

My mom used to say this in regard to old age.  She was so right (though I didn’t understand it at the time)!  Allow me to describe it for those of the younger set who have not yet hit the stage.

It’s a time of life when mentally you don’t feel your chronological number.  In fact, it’s surreal – like it’s for someone else.  My greatest love has always been people and relationships.  So, that means hanging out with friends is near the top of my list, only superseded by traveling to see my family.  I can still make those trips, but I fear the day when that is no longer the case.

Often my mind says, “Have at it!” but my body says, “Hold on.  Not so fast.  What are you thinking???”

This is the time when life can easily devolve into doctor appointments.  They may be difficult to get to so that’s the extent of the day for some.  All of my friends are old (like me) and many are either bedridden, going through chemo treatments, or dying.  I have lost two special people in the last three months and two more (that I know of) might leave us at any time.  It’s like getting punched in the stomach with no time to recover and then, BAM, another gut punch.

There is also the unexpected issue of no longer feeling needed.  Your family is on auto-pilot, doing what you raised them to do – be independent.  And, here you are, breathing in and out, but for what purpose?  You feel like an extra comma misplaced in the sentence – superfluous.  You want to have a purpose but you don’t have enough energy to commit to anything.  Ask a question of a doctor (many of whom look like they just graduated from eighth grade) and the answer you get now is, “It’s all part of the AGING process.”  Thanks a lot.  You have a nice day, too.

The mail you get is all about hearing aids or cremation.  Even the  cremation folks tell you to “Make an appointment”.  I know what they mean, but it just makes one laugh.  How do I make a cremation appointment?  I have no idea when I’ll be in need of that service!

Now that we have enlightened the young people about our dilemma, what about the senior set?  Slowing down, watching friends die, feeling put out to pasture, and all the other aforementioned issues must not preclude us from realizing God has us here for whatever reason and at the proper time He will let us know when our mansion is ready.  In the meantime, we can still pray for our world, our country, our family and our friends.  That’s a worthwhile endeavor.  My grama lived to be 102.  She prayed for me and I still feel the benefits of those prayers and her love.

“Hear, O Israel, the Lord your God, the Lord is One.  And, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  And, these words which I am commanding you today shall be on your heart and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and you shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”  (Deuteronomy 6:4-7)

“And, even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me until I declare Thy strength to this generation.”  (Psalm 71:18)