J.E. Solinski
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Books
  • About
  • Contact
  • Resources
  • My Favs!

Aging . . .

7/3/2021

8 Comments

 
Picture
Okay. I admit it. I’m getting old–er.

There is a lot of evidence for this besides the calendar. I have more little (and big) aches and pains. I can now pull my back out of alignment by just getting out of bed. My stamina isn’t quite what it used to be. Believe it or not, I get full faster. (I think that should be chalked up as a blessing.) I could list some others but they probably are best left unsaid. But the one that surprises me the most, is my response to heat.


I grew up in heat. The Central Valley is not known for its mild summer climate, and summer tennis programs were run at all times of the day. For some reason the heat didn’t bother me then . . . or in college . . . or even as a young adult. I could play at any time of the day.

I still live in a warm (a Central Valley euphemism for blazing hot) area, but I have discovered my outdoor activity is now reserved for the morning or evenings, and even then, once done, I am wiped out.

Age does that to a person. Though we can still be active, age causes us to modify our activity, reassess our abilities, and seek new challenges. What it doesn’t do, however, is make us unnecessary or useless or forgotten.

A lot of times when we reach an age where we can’t do what we used to do or still want to do, we are afraid we will be deemed useless. Even the Psalmist was afraid of such a thing and begged God to “not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent” (Psalm 71:9).

But we are remembered and we are told to value our gray hair as it is “a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life” (Proverbs 16:31), and because of that we have something unique to offer that only comes with age. “Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days” (Job 12:12).

And so even if our activities have changed over the years, we are reminded that we still have value. We are still important in God’s work: “They [the righteous] still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green (Psalm 92:14).

Yes it is true that  “The glory of young men is their strength,” but it is also true that “the splendor of old men is their gray hair” (Proverbs 20:29). In fact, the first part of Titus 2 is Paul instructing Titus about how important the behavior of the older men and women is, for they are to be examples and mentors for younger men and women.

Some of us, like Moses, will live lives full of health and vigor right up to the day God calls us home (Deuteronomy 34:7). Others of us will feel the weight of the years and be physically slowed in our final days.

Regardless, God knows us, remembers us, and wants to still use us just as we are until he takes us home.



8 Comments
Joni
7/3/2021 08:15:13 am

I needed to hear your message. Thanks

Reply
Jody
7/4/2021 04:31:52 pm

I, obviously, needed to hear it too!

Reply
Poco Castillo
7/3/2021 02:16:09 pm

Well said once again, cuz. I feel like I am still recovering from our vacation!

Reply
Jody
7/4/2021 04:32:55 pm

But it is a good recovery, isn't it? Nice to think back to who you saw and what you did, though how much you do in one day definitely changes as the years progress.

Reply
Mike
7/4/2021 11:16:06 am

It seems to be contagious, everyone I know has it.

Reply
Jody
7/4/2021 04:33:11 pm

Very well said. Good reminder.

Reply
Raelene
7/4/2021 04:00:32 pm

I'm glad I'm not the only one feeling my age. Yesterday I took a trip to Sequoia Park with my son and his girlfriend. Two years ago I went up Moro Rock twice! Naturally, I thought no problem--I've been averaging 3 miles on my daily walk, Moro Rock should be a piece of cake! Not exactly.... I was almost to the top and could see the end in sight but had to stop because I was breathless and dizzy. I took some consolation in the fact that there were not many people my age up there. Thanks for reminding me that God can still use us in our "golden" years!

Reply
Jody
7/4/2021 04:34:33 pm

Thanks for sharing. There are many times I start an activity and soon realize that I am NOT as strong as I once was. Humbling.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Jody Eileen Solinski spent her career teaching in the California public school system where she enjoyed helping young adults take their place in society. A native Californian, she enjoys the outdoors and so loves living in Northern California where she can enjoy the beauty of God’s creation up close.

    Picture
    Subscribe

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015

    Categories

    All
    Anger
    Appreciation
    Art
    Attitude
    Beauty
    Belief
    Books
    Bravery
    Calm
    Change
    Christian Bloggers
    Christian Living
    Christmas
    Cleansing
    Conflict
    Consistency
    Coronavirus
    Costs
    Demands
    Disappointment
    Discontent
    End Times
    Evil
    Faith
    Fatigue
    Fear
    Fires
    Focus
    Foolishness
    Forgiveness
    Frustration
    God's Protection
    God's Sovereignty
    God's Timing
    Good Intentions
    Grace
    Grief
    Healing
    Hell
    Holy Spirit
    Hopes
    Hymns
    Hypocrisy
    Ingenuity
    Isolation
    Jesus
    Legacies
    Listening
    Love
    Memories
    Money
    Mornings
    Mothers
    Music
    New Years
    Opportunities
    Order
    Pain
    Patience
    Peace
    Perfection
    Perseverance
    Perspective
    Prayer
    Pressure
    Promises
    Purpose
    Readiness
    Reading
    Reduction
    Refreshed
    Relationship
    Relief
    Remembering
    Renewed
    Reset
    Rest
    Sacrifice
    Science
    Seeing
    Self-Centeredness
    Service
    Sin
    Sleep
    Spiritual Diet
    Spiritual Life
    Storms
    Strength
    Suffering
    Summer
    Talents
    Temptation
    Thanksgiving
    The Bible
    The Tongue
    Troubles
    Trust
    Truth
    Unity
    Water
    Weaknesses
    Wise Counsel
    Worry
    Writing
    Youth

J.E. Solinski ©2015