I’m still the “me” of childhood, although Hubby and I are entering the sunset years.
Yes, our hair is gray and our bodies tire a bit quicker these days, but who we are on the inside still feels like the child of yesteryear.
Although no one ever grows younger, it seems as if aging is considered a curse in today’s society. Or at best, something to endure rather than the accumulation of rich experiences, memories, and wisdom to appreciate.
An acquaintance of ours, only in his early 60’s, had an interesting encounter that illustrates this negative aging concept from a humorous perspective.
While he and his wife enjoyed a meal at a local restaurant, the young manager stopped at their table to inquire about their meal. (The food was delicious.) Then this man – had to be in his twenties – looked at our friend and said, “I like your style. When I get up in years, I hope to look as good as you do.” Stunned, our friend simply replied, “Thank you.”
For many folks, the inevitable aging process does seem like the end of everything. But getting older deteriorates only the body. Over the years, a life well-lived hones and refines the actual person, the one living inside a human physique.
And here is where personal beliefs come into play. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I believe the way we live in the here-and-now determines the extent of our enjoyment in the hereafter. The aging process merely draws us closer to the doorway into the hereafter.
For me, this quote of Jesus Christ’s sums up a life well-lived: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. And your neighbor as yourself.”