As we seniors look back over our long lives we are amazed at what we have experienced. In our 70, 80, 90 years much has changed and we have matured and grown through it. Every generation experiences growth and change. We realize that is life. Nothing stands the same. We grow through stages of life, totally different from one generation to the next. Just think about it. We start as tiny babies newly born totally dependent on maternal love to care for us since as babies we are helpless. Then our bodies begin to change and grow pushing ourselves to do more walking, standing laughing, and talking. Toddler stage then moves to more independence as we begin to demonstrate our ability to care for ourselves, even at times becoming demanding, wanting our own way. Then our lives become more serious as we realize we are here to learn and mature our minds as we work our way through school.
At high school graduation we experience victory holding our diplomas though many of us realize we must continue our education to find a job in this competitive world. Finally, in our 20s we experience big adult decisions as we meet and marry our loved one, settle in on our adult employment and start our family. Life goes on as we raise our children, continue to love them wherever they are, and we realize how important parenting is. Then suddenly our families become smaller as our children marry and leave to build their own lives and families. At that point we begin to contemplate retirement. Where will we live? What will we do? Big decisions are made as we might sell our family home and move across the country. We carefully read the retirement ads and picture ourselves living carefree without worries.
By the time we are in our late 60s or 70s surprises pop up, usually health. Oh sure, we have read about our friends whose health is deteriorating but we are convinced that won't happen to us. And then one day the heart breaks down, the legs have difficulty holding us up, we have trouble breathing, and our mental thinking becomes confused. What we are then experiencing is normal aging process. As we all grow older we must understand that our bodies are in the process of aging. Aging is normal and we must be prepared. By denying aging we cause problems. For one thing we must recognize that we all 'age'. Let's face it! We can't run around the block, we can't do push-ups, we can't stand in the kitchen and bake pies all day. But there are always some jobs that we will always do......help our neighbor by visiting, write a poem full of cheer, tell jokes and hear the laughter.
One of the problems we have as we 'age', we deny we are growing older. We state, "Oh, I'm fine", denying our inability to swallow successfully or denying our inability to remember what day it is. When we have 'aging' problems, get help. Our senior population is multiplying and many doctors are available to help.
Look at me! Here I am, a woman who turns 86 in April of this year. I am living alone in an Assisted Living facility because my husband died in May of 2020 from Covid. I have trouble walking because of nerve damage following cancer of the brain in 2010. Also that nerve damage causes me to type on the computer with my left hand (born right-handed). But it doesn't stop me from writing my monthly column and blog, giving Bible studies, and communicating with friends all over the US and Canada.
You can do anything if you are determined! As we grow older we must remember our physical lives don't last forever. Death is part of living. I am surprised many seniors refuse to even talk about death, won't even use the word 'death' but rather say 'passed away'. We will all die, so let's prepare for death. Read the Bible, read books about Heaven, know where you are going. God has prepared a beautiful eternal home for us. Study it, seriously, KNOW where you are going. You plan and research vacation trips. Why not research your heavenly home so that you will be comforted and not be afraid when you die.
"And God will wipe every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21: 4.
