Ageless Grace

It’s January 10, 2024. That equates to 128 days since my 62nd birthday.

Lately I have been giving more intentional thought to growing old. We have any number of things which work against us as we age. Whether physical, emotional or mental, the processes which run concurrently to the passage of time, unerringly unfold at a seemingly relentless pace.

There are many who have never had the opportunity to experience life in their 40s, 50s, or even 60s and beyond. For those of us who have been blessed with that privilege, I wonder if sometimes we take some things for granted. We invariably find something to complain about. Whether it’s some new unexpected ache or defect we have discovered in our body, or the seemingly sudden challenge to our self-esteem as we gaze at the aged stranger reflected in the mirror.

We might feel agitated, or depressed, or frustrated; almost as if we have some sort of entitlement to remain young and vigorous, without spot or wrinkle. We grumble and complain and formulate preconceived notions about what things should be like versus coming to grips with what they really are.

This is not to say we shouldn't take the best care of ourselves whenever possible, however, we oftentimes get sucked into the societal pressure of trying to be someone, or retaining something unrealistic, and in doing so, leading to consequences which affect us in unhealthy ways: physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Maybe we should consider altering our preconceived notions about what aging or being part of an older demographic is all about. As much as our recollection of previously having young, nubile, firm, and fit bodies makes us nostalgic for those days, I believe we need a more balanced outlook on where we find ourselves in the present. There are gifts and opportunities, along with deep repositories of wisdom, borne out of life’s experiences which only come to fruition in later years. This is a blessing, not a curse.

It is a blessing both for yourself, and for others. It’s your blessing because you have gained knowledge and insight about things, places, people, circumstances (and yourself), which have forged you into who you are today. It is a blessing for others, because we have the opportunity and privilege to pass on what we have learned, so they may benefit and glean from us as they go through their own life experiences.

As we extend aspects of who we are to others, this in turn adds to the essence of who they are. This allows us to  be a reflection of Ageless Grace and gives us permission to age gracefully.

”But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.“ 1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV