I minister to a lot of older Christians. I can divide them into two categories: Those who have aged gracefully and are a blessing. And those who have become bitter in their later years and are a pain to be around. I want to age gracefully.
So, how do you know when you’re getting older? I found a humorous checklist. See how you do…
- Everything hurts. And what doesn’t hurt, doesn’t work!
- You feel like the night before and you haven’t been anywhere.
- You get winded playing cards!
- You know all the answers, but nobody asks you the questions.
- You look forward to a dull evening!
- You need glasses … to find your glasses!
- You sit in a rocking chair, but you can’t get it going!
- Your knees buckle, but your belt won’t!
- Your back goes out more than you do!
Many people today fear getting older. They equate it with senility, poverty, or becoming useless and hopeless. But it doesn’t have to be.
The Bible presents growing old as a normal, natural part of life. There is honor involved in the aging process, because growing old is normally accompanied by increased wisdom and experience. “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life” (Proverbs 16:31).
So, how can a person grow old gracefully? I read of a 20/20 study of 96 independent, non-institutionalized people over 100 years old. You’d think that diet or genetics were the main ingredient of their successful aging process. But 4 qualities stood out.
1. Optimism
Geneva McDaniel, 106, recommended, “Think positive! Don’t get negative. Don’t think about yourself. Just go out and do what you have to do.” Jesse Champion, also 106, said, “The Lord let me live to see all those who treated me bad die!” Champion, and his wife, Phronie, go to church twice and week and believe a deep religious faith is the most important thing in life.
2. Commitment to a Project or a Cause
People need involvement. Whether it’s hobbies, education, or religion, we all need something to devote ourselves to. The greatest work is God’s work. I’ve seen too many people go downhill fast when they lost their purpose for living at retirement. Christians don’t retire, they just get more time to devote to the Lord’s work.
3. Mobility
Exercise is so important! Almost all the interviewed participated in some form of exercise. Geneva McDaniel (see above) teaches aerobics at her senior center.
4. Ability to Cope with Loss
The longer you live, the more you lose. We all lose things eventually – our health, job, car, and house. The list goes on and on. Before long, we lose people – parents, spouses, brothers, sisters, friends, relatives, and even children. One lady laughed that she had lived so long that those who had gone on before her must think she didn’t make it. One reason the elderly fear death less is because they have so many loved ones waiting for them in Heaven.
Getting older can be the greatest part of your life.
- You get to see how it all turns out.
- You get to stop doing the things you don’t enjoy.
- You finally learn you don’t have to win all the arguments.
- You start getting more help than ever before.
- You begin to know what love is all about.
- You have time to smell the roses.
George Burns, who died at 100 years old, once said, “You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old.” I hope you get old gracefully.