Have you thought about what it would be like to live until you’re 90 years old?
That time may be so far into the future it’s hard to imagine. You may feel somewhat daunted by having another 30-40 years to go. Or you may welcome the idea of the new adventures and opportunities they will bring.
Mental habits formed now will certainly impact the quality of our future years. Negativity and a fearful narrowing of perspective can hamper the full bloom of our later decades. Individuals who embrace their approaching years with hope, meaningful relationships and a deepening faith in their Creator will relish the sweeter taste of life down that longer road.
My dad lived to see his 90th birthday which amounts to 32,850 days or 4,380 months. When he joined the Navy at 17 years old to enter WWII he couldn’t imagine reaching that seasoned age. Ninety candles arrived with a family who loved him and a life filled with many superb experiences. Included in those years was overcoming pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, skin cancer, hip replacements, and appendicitis with quiet confidence and an optimistic view of the future.
Now that he’s gone, he remains a great example of someone who loved life. He never gave up. He found a way to make it through. That’s what I want to do too.
It’s a determined choice we have to make. Will we trust God to see us through the obstacles that block our way? Will we hold onto hope? Will we choose the narrow path that faith requires? If we do, it will lead us to a place of meaning and beauty in the future. However, we shouldn’t go it alone. We need close relationships who can provide cheer leading when we need it.
The best part of all is that God is inviting us to join Him in the adventure of our later years. He has plans for us to accomplish as the influence of our life can sweep across future generations.
I’m in for that. How about you?
Relationships….you mentioned. I’ve experienced how they can be a rocky and dangerous terrain. They can also be a meadow or a pleasant place by water. You mentioned cheerleading–I think you were saying that a good friend will be supportive and communicate hope. Trusting God–real life damages this trust and challenges it–i imagine you know this. I hope for many more years, although suffering has also invited me to lose perspective on hope and other matters of faith and heart and mind. Even in your short writings you stir up things to think about. Encouragement and hope are so needed in this life and people who sincerely care. I want to grow in this and to receive this in life. Yet for now….I’m tired.
Becca,
Sorry for the delay in responding. Your points are well said. Suffering can feel like it overpowers our faith at times. It is exhausting to endure. But somehow God meets us in the middle of all of that. No simple answers can be given. It is gripping tightly to what we know to be true of God’s care for us and His personal attention to all that we are going through. There is a lot of mystery to this and it’s okay to not have answers. Even with all of these challenges, God is still accomplishing His purposes in our life. That is something which offers us hope.