Once again, it’s 5 Minute Friday. The weeks seem to fly don’t they?
GO
As you look at that older woman in your life
Or in the group where you are sitting.
What do you think about her?
Be honest about your thoughts.
Do you think, “Poor thing, her best years are behind her.”
Or maybe, “I’ll bet that woman hasn’t changed since 1963.
She has no idea what MY life is like.
It is so different from when her children were young.”
You may even wonder if she can remember that far back.
While it is true your thoughts may have been more kind, they also may have been more harsh.
So I’d like to educate you about women who are my age, 66ish…which isn’t all that old really!
I wish I knew about older women then, what I know now.
For one thing, we have probably been through more change in our lifetimes than you can even imagine!
Ask anyone in their sixties or older about what life was like when they were raising their children.
We didn’t have cell phones, personal computers, blogs or google…not that they would have helped!
We didn’t even have answering machines, much less caller ID.
And I’m only scratching the surface of what we didn’t have.
We did fine. I’m not complaining. That’s a topic for another day.
Our topic is “change”.
I’m trying to show how things have changed since then.
And how much change we have adjusted to, even when it didn’t look like we were changing.
In our heads, most of us think we are still in our 20’s or 30’s.
It’s only when we look in the mirror that we realize…
Whoops! I guess a few more years have passed since then!
The reason I’m talking about this in the topic of change today
Is to tell you about a great resource you have.
It is the older women…of your church, community, family… STOP
The ones that have aged with joy and grace usually have a wonderful sense of humor.
They will be kinder to you than you are to yourself, for the most part.
When you think you have messed up, they might agree with you…
But they’ll help you put it into perspective.
There is no mess-up that is too big for the Father’s forgiveness…
If we are willing to humble ourselves before Him…
And those we have wronged.
And yes, we will need to change…
We need to change and adjust joyfully to the changes that happen around us.
They are GOD’s providences and are placed in our lives for GOD’s good purposes.
Adjusting to changes we don’t like isn’t easy.
It takes GOD’s grace to enable us to do it…a day at a time.
Often the needed changes are not in the places we think they need to be.
When long-lasting change is going to happen,
The deep-seated areas of our lives are where change has to happen.
Not on the surface, in the cosmetic places.
But behind the scenes and in the deep, hidden places.
The places we don’t want to go.
The places where the roots are growing…where we think and smolder,
Where we replay scenarios and conversations in our heads…with us as the heroines.
Sometimes an older friend will be able to help us ferret them out easier than our young friends will…
Because they have been doing it longer, at least some of them have.
I challenge you to get to know an older woman…
As a friend.
What was life like for her when she was your age?
If she can tell it with a smile or laugh, you will want to get to know her better.
If she can remind you how faithful GOD was during hard times, you know you will need to know her better.
She will be a treasure to you…and you to her as you forge a mutual friendship.
It will add a texture to your life that will enrich it.
photo: © Laqhill | Dreamstime.com
What a terrific post. As a 52ish woman, I am trying to find my way through a new stage of life. You make so many great points, I’ll have to go back and read again.
thanks for visiting elizabeth:) i’ve enjoyed all your visits ladies…along with the views of your blogs. i’m looking forward to getting to know you better since we have our age in common…and our desire to encourage others in the Lord.
Yeah, Martha, another me! I’m 66ish too, and I’m a mentor mom in our church’s Mothers of Preschoolers group. And you have talked about what we wiser older women do — we talk about the changes, transitions and struggles we’ve faced and we share the love of God, community and our faith. Hooray for you for writing about how much can be gained from our older women.
glad you stopped by sherrey. you are so right. there are many things we can help with in terms of encouragement. many younger women have never experienced that from any women, much less older ones. it is my passion and the main reason i got into blogging.
yeah for older bloggers…sometimes I can feel like a dinosaur out here:)…and yes…we can help those younger moms be more gentle with themselves…
In many ways…I love getting older…there is a freedom that comes…they may only come with age:)
great post…blessings from one old broad to another:)
glad you stopped to visit r.elliot:) you said it so well! i’m glad so many of you came out of the woodwork this week. glad to meet you.
Appreciate this post.
thanks denise:)
In my 40’s I’m appreciating how much my mother’s generation knew/knows…especially since I’m raising teenaged daughters!
that seems to have happened with my daughters with age and parenting. they weren’t unappreciative before, but once they b/c mothers, their eyes were opened to what the job entailed. they decided i didn’t do nearly as bad a job as some tho’t when they were teens:) i was the same way so i think that is just the way the “circle of life” is.
Martha – I love the name of your blog! You have such wise words to share today, thank you. In my church we’ve had a few “older” women mentoring “younger” women groups/programs, at the time I was the “younger” :-). You did an amazing job of covering many aspects – truths and benefits of learning from life experiences. I am “only” 39, but am able to relate to many of the examples you gave of how the times have changed, I often find it hard to express to my 12 yr old daughter she really doesn’t need what she thinks she does. Thank you again for what you have shared, it was very encouraging.
thanks for stopping by April:) i enjoyed reading your post too. your summer sounds like it was crazy. i can’t even imagine what a political campaign is like…must be wild! thanks for your comments. glad you found the post helpful.
Oh boy… do I related to your post – or what? We’re of the same generation. I can’t tell you how many times I look in the mirror and ask, “Who is that old broad?” because it’s such a shock to see myself. When I’m not looking in the mirror, I’m still looking out of my 30 year-old eyes. (30 was a great year for me.)
hi ro,
i enjoyed reading your blog. the title is hilarious! vivid definition of wisdom:) i find that most women my age tend to find that comment funny. younger ones just look at me like i’m crazy…and i guess i am a little:) i hope to bump into you again sometime soon. both of you ladies were delightful tonite…er this morning.