Aging gracefully - with enthusiasm

So far, we've discussed growing old gracefully keeping the Lord in mind, and keeping heaven in mind, too.

Today, we see that we can bring enthusiasm in ways that younger "whippersnappers" may not be able to! (You like that term? My grandma used it a lot . . . to her, it was not such a derogatory term, it was just an observation that sometimes younger folks think they know a great deal more than they actually do, and they have lots of energy to pursue the things they don't know much about. Whew. A long sentence, there.) We may move more slowly than the young whippersnappers, but we have a lot more experience, and that IS worth something!

But I did mention enthusiasm. Not experience. What do I mean?

Well, as we grow older, there's temptation to fall into the trap of "I've already done that." Now, sage words of wisdom are truly awesome, but these are not:

•            We've done that before.
•             That won't work.
•             Everybody knows about that.
•              I'm retired now and I can retire as a Christian, too.    
•              There's nothing I can do.  

Those don't fall into the enthusiasm category! 

And they certainly are not examples of aging gracefully . . . . 

Our bodies may be growing older, but when we are keeping the Lord in mind, our spirits should be renewed each day.

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day. (II Corinthians 4:16, NASB) 

And let's not forget the familiar passage in Isaiah:

Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary. (Isaiah 40:31)

I like the sound of that, don't you? Renewing our spirit. Gaining new strength.

It's the natural result of what we talked about the other day -- God knows about old age. He knows about our infirmities. He knows that we have achy arthritis and that our muscle tone is not what it used to be. He knows that sadness sometimes weighs down our spirits, and that we still worry about our young'uns even when they are grown. (Grin) 

He knows and He cares and He renews our spirits and our strength. 

And He knows we have a lot to offer the younger folks.

Offering it with enthusiasm, instead of sourpuss looks and tones, will make us far more appealing and will get us far more willing listeners!

We can be enthusiastic about teaching - it's the older men who are singled out as candidates for elders and leaders in the church.

shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not with greed but with eagerness; (I Peter 5:2)

It's the older women who are tasked with teaching the younger women. Remember the passage in Titus?

teachers of good things; 4 that they may teach the young women ...(Titus 2:3b-4a, AJKV)

Many times, it is the older Christians who are retired or semi-retired, and are blessed with more time to devote to service. It's just logical that we have more ability to visit the infirmed, to write cards and notes to those who need encouragement, and to influence friends and neighbors we meet as we go about our day. Some Christians are blessed with a little extra financially, and can help those who are in need - giving them extra opportunities to witness to those who need to hear the gospel of Christ.

I found it intriguing to read the following verse. Caleb was eighty-five years old when he spoke (and he was ready and raring to go and do what God had planned for him):

 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said. (Joshua 14:12, AJKV)

Caleb was one of the two spies who first scouted the Promised Land and returned with confidence that God would deliver the land into the hands of the people. 

He had waited for his opportunity, and he relied upon the promise of God to enable him to conquer his portion of the land. He didn't rely upon his own natural strength and courage, or on the numbers and prowess of the warlike tribe of Judah (of which he was prince).

What an example for us as we try to age gracefully in our faith and in our daily lives! We, too, can rely on the promises of God to help us conquer the problems before us. There's no need to struggle along in our own strength, for He has promised to supply strength to us, and to meet all of our needs.