Learning to age with purpose and grace

Twanna Henderson: Welcome to T Time: Spiritual Conversations For, With, and About Women. I'm your host, Twanna Henderson, and as always, I want to remind you to like this broadcast and to definitely share it with someone in your life.

Well, I'm coming to you today, because I want to share something with you very special. I had something very significant happen to me last month. I had a birthday! Which of course, was a blessing, but it was one of those birthdays where the card makers have the specific number on the card. Ugh! So, I want to chat for a bit about something that many of us don't like to talk about a lot, if we can help it that is, and that's aging.

For the past several months, I've been grappling in my mind about this whole thing called aging. I mean, intellectually, I know that aging is a good thing, because it means that the Lord still has purpose and calling on our lives, right? But I have to admit that it's hard to not get sucked into the world's views on aging. I mean, just think about the magazine covers and commercials with women who look like somebody's teen daughter. And not to mention all the anti-aging creams and serums and cupping and ointments and injections and on and on and on. And even one of the clothing stores that I love to shop at from time to time, has moved to having younger and younger models and clothes on their website that I only would wear if I was 12 years old. And if we're not careful, we'll believe that aging is a bad thing, and not a gift from God. I'm thankful to have had many memorable birthdays over the years, and birthdays and birthday parties were a big thing when I was growing up. We would wear the cone-shaped birthday hats and play pin the tail on the donkey, which is really weird when you think about it. And then don't forget the super sugary cake that was white with blue icing. Those really were the good old days.

But now, with turning this significant age, I look at birthdays a lot differently; through a different lens. And with another perspective, I'm beginning to understand that counting each day as significant is so important. Because through them, God increases our spiritual wisdom. I mean, isn't that what Psalm 90 and 12 says, to teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom? And there's no specific number on those days. But as the days increase, so does the opportunity for our wisdom to do the same. And yes, going into a new season of life can be a bit unsettling because of all of the unknowns, such as what should I expect in this new season? How will I feel? I'm telling you, the aches and pains are real, my friend! And more importantly, how will my relationship with the Lord grow?

I'm reminded of the Israelites who left the familiarity of Egypt to follow Moses to a whole new land. And as you know, as times got rough, they whined and complained and resisted the process of getting to this new place. Likewise, when we are entering a new season of life, and when our eyes get a little dimmer, or rolling out of bed takes a minute or two longer, we tend to whine and complain instead of thanking God for giving us the activity of our limbs and the ability to experience his goodness, one more day.

So, what can I learn from turning this significant age? Well, as I pondered this, I determined that I have the ability to learn how to trust God in the unknown. I mean, isn't that the essence of trust anyway? And what I mean, though, is that I don't want to proceed through life kicking and screaming. I don't want to complain about what may seem hard to do or more difficult to see. I want to learn how to trust God in the process with expectation and with wonder. And this level of trust can be scary for sure. But if I think about what tomorrow could hold and what God could do, it has the ability to bring me so much joy and excitement. And to be honest with you, I genuinely feel as though I'm just hitting my stride. That life is good, and that the best really is yet to come. So I'm choosing to receive it with wide open arms.

My desire is also to continue to bear fruit as I age. You know, there are so many wonderful scriptures that relate to aging. But another one that's life-giving to me is Psalm 92, which begins at verse 12 with “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. And those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.” Then it says, “They shall still bear fruit in old age! They should be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the Lord is upright.” What an encouragement those words are, and how true those words are. To know that when you're planted, that you will continue to flourish, and bear fruit, even when aging.

I'm reminded of a woman in our church by the name of Miss Lulu, who is a great example of bearing fruit in old age. She is an encourager, and an intercessor. And her life reminds me of what God is able to do through us when we're yielded to him. I also think about my 90-year-old neighbor, Peggy, who still walks three miles a day and then works in her yard for hours on end. The righteous really do flourish.

But there's one more thing that the Lord has pressed on my heart about turning this significant age. And that is to make space. What do I mean by that? Well, the author and poet, Judy Brown, wrote that what makes a fire burn is space between the logs. A breathing space. And too many logs packed in too tight can squelch a fire or they can douse the flames almost as much as a puddle of water can. And what we need to practice, and what I want to practice, is building open spaces. Just as clearly as we learn to pile on the logs. See it's the fuel, and the absence of the fuel together, that makes the fire possible. And when we lay the logs the right way, it allows the fire to burn in a way that it needs to. So, I'm really excited to see the difference it might make for me to build, to really practice building, open spaces into my life in this new season. I think this will definitely help me to age with grace.

Let's pray. Lord, thank you for gracing us with another day, another month, another year. And help us to incorporate breathing space in our lives. Show us ways to create space and to not have too many logs on the fire. May the fire of your presence burn in us and through us. And thank you for the encouragement in your word in Isaiah 46 verse 4 which states “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” In Jesus name, Amen. I'm Twanna Henderson, thank you for joining me on T Time. Until the next time, be blessed of the Lord.