Is There Hope For My Peace And Care As I Grow Older?

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Matthew 6:19-21

            

As I have gotten older I have seen more friends and relatives grow old and infirm so that they can no longer care for themselves.  Those that are fortunate have family that can help them and adequate resources to cover their needs.  It is sad to see so many who do not have close friends or family that can help them, or will help them. Many seem so sad and so lonely.  It is a scary future to contemplate.

            More and more people are living longer with fewer and fewer younger ones around. As life expectancy goes up, families are growing smaller and are no longer living close to their elderly relatives. It creates more of a burden when the family is expected to help with an older parent or relative.

            It is not something that most people want to think about, much less discuss, but it is something that definitely needs to be discussed. Will I have friends and family that care enough about me to put up with my idiosyncrasies?  Will I remember to be kind and loving to others?  Will my mind still function to remember these things? Will I still be "special" to anyone?

            As I think about it, I try to look at the problems that could arise and think about solutions.  Who will I rely on?  As I think about this, I ask myself, "Who do I rely on now?  Is it my husband?  Myself? My kids and grandkids? Or do I mainly rely on my Lord?" I need a close relationship with the Lord now if I expect to rely on Him later. My prayer life needs to get deeper and my life more saturated with prayer.

            Do my actions now cause people to be turned off, or do I draw them to me?  As most people get a more exaggerated personality as they age, I need to cultivate those traits and characteristics that draw and not repel others now and not wait until later. I need to become more Christ-like as I age. I need to study my Bible in order to cultivate this personality.

            I need to do what I can financially and otherwise to prepare, and then turn loose of the worries and let my loving Lord carry them.  Somehow I think He is large enough to carry them quite nicely! I need to study my Bible and claim all the promises that He has just for this time of my life.  Thank you, Jesus, that you care for me, really, really care for me!

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in  you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.  Zephaniah 3:17. (NIV)

Pat Eppler