“The beauty of old men [and women] is [wisdom and experience].”
Growing up is part of life and there is nothing we can do to stop it. It’s always ironic to hear how children want to become adults as fast as possible (to do “adulty” things) and adults wish they could become like children so they don’t have all the responsibilities they shoulder now. But one truth that I am becoming more and more aware of is that the older you get, the faster life passes you by. I remember when I was a child, waiting an hour seemed like eternity…I would anxious and move around a lot (well more like bounced around…just ask my family) and if there was ever times were I was waiting I didn’t like it… Think about Christmas when you were little…days seem to go slower than a snail, and when the day finally arrived our anticipation burst into happiness and joy. I am 24 years old this year, and Christmas seems to come and go so fast. It’s already almost the end of August and we might begin seeing Christmas shopping specials soon. I’m not only talking about Christmas, because everything in life goes by like a blur now, and I realize as I get older it will only go by faster…
Here are some words that came out of my devotion today from an elderly man: “Time has a way of catching you unawares. It seems like yesterday I was young, just married and embarking on my new life. Where did the years go? I know I’ve lived them all, and I get ‘glimpses’ of how it was back then…my hopes and dreams. But here it is…the winter of my life…How did I get here so fast? I remember seeing older people and thinking winter was so far off I couldn’t fathom or imagine it. But here it is…my friends are retired and getting gray…they move slower…I see great changes. I remember when they were young and vibrant, now we’re the ‘old folks’ we never thought we’d become. Each day I find that taking a shower is a real target, and taking a nap isn’t a treat anymore, it’s mandatory, otherwise I fall asleep where I’m sitting! I’m unprepared for the aches, pains, and the loss of strength and ability to do the things I wish I’d done and didn’t. Winter’s here and I’m not sure how long it will last. If you’re not there yet, let me remind you it’ll be here faster than you think. Whatever you’d like to accomplish in your life…do it today. Don’t put it off, because you can never be sure if this is your winter. There’s no guarantee you’ll see every season of life, so say all the things you want your loved ones to remember. Your life is a gift from God, how you live it is your gift to Him and ensuing generations.”
These words by the older man show his wisdom and experience, and the verse in the beginning of this post is already wisdom in itself. His words encourages me to seize every moment of every day, because we do not know even if we have tomorrow, another mintue, or another year. Even if we do…time will go by so quickly we might miss opportunities and life will just pass us by. Learn from this elderly man as I have, because before I know it, I’ll be that elderly man (if I live to then) who passes my wisdom and experience to younger people. 8)