50th Birthday Cake
“Aging is not ‘lost youth’ but a new stage of opportunity and strength.”
― Betty Friedan
I turn 50 this coming April 15. I am more excited than a child at Christmas. My family thinks that I may have a screw or two loose in my head. But I say it’s a 35 year goal finally come to pass.
That’s right, I have been wanting to hit the big 5-0 since I was 15 years old. I’ve never looked at aging as something to grieve. Now that 50 is so near, I now wonder expectantly, “well what’s after that?”
I do not agree with much of what Betty Frieden has to say, but I have to agree with the above quote. I’ve never looked at aging as lost youth. I’ve always looked at it as experience gained – a sense of wisdom attained – an opportunity to learn and better other people’s lives. At 50, I am hoping to love more richly, deeply, and more compassionately. I’ve found that being a Christian makes all those worthy goals mine because those were Christ’s attributes. Because of Him, I can move forward in life with confidence and assurance.
I have found that aging is addressed with favorable tones in the Scriptures. The first promise in Exodus 20:1, “Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God is giving you”. Whew, I sure am glad that I put my parents’ opinions of me in the forefront. I still do to this day.
Mom and Dad
In Deuteronomy 5:33 “Follow the whole instruction the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live, prosper, and have a long life in the land you will possess.” The Lord shows favor to those who live a moral life. One who takes the Word of God and absorbs His teaching and lives a life based on those teachings will be blessed with long life. See also 1 Kings 3:14 “If you walk in My ways and keep My statutes and commandments just as your father David did, I will give you a long life.”
In the Bible, those who are aged are perceived as being wise, resourceful and valuable. What they have, they are supposed to share for the good of everyone. We are to offer to our children, our fellow brothers and sisters and all of society, our very experiences and give them wise counsel to help them avoid our pitfalls.
Most all who know me, know that I am drawn to the silver foxes who came before me. I adore being around those who have lived life longer than I have. I love to listen to the stories of their youth and the experiences of their lives. The history that they’ve lived can truly help develop the future decisions of those that they bless with their knowledge. The elderly are to be respected and cared for, and they deserve kindness. We all have a responsibility to the generation that came before us whether they are family members, church members or neighbors.
Aging is a positive part of life. We are to accept the blessings and responsibilities of aging with gratitude.
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