photo: CCO public domain
The door to a new decade has opened for me today. I remember thinking of women who were 70 when I grew up. That is, the few whose ages I knew. They seemed very old to me! And no, I wasn’t one of those kids who thought 40 was the age of someone near the end of her life!
Seventy seemed mature, settled, sensible and grandmotherly. Despite the fact that I am a grandmother, I still feel that I am finding myself…and the GOD who created me…and I fit into His plan for the Kingdom.
I’m still asking a million questions like the little girl who was always tugging her mother’s skirts and asking, “How come…” I’m still the woman in a group who asks, “Why can’t we try…?” or “If this and this are true, why can’t we try…?” or “If x and y aren’t working, why can’t we try…?”
I don’t look like what I thought 70 would be like
I’m so not what I thought 70 would look like. I still don’t really feel settled in our apartment…my fault, but it’s still true. I miss running into people we knew in our early days in Tyler, often kids that went to school with our kids…that are long grown. Or kids from our church that are long grown with kids of their own. I used to enjoy being in the store or mall and having someone walk up to me and say, “You won’t remember me, but I was the kid…” I usually did remember them. That won’t happen here in AL. But we knew about that when we moved here. It is a loss.
Church is becoming a home to me. I see people I know. I don’t always remember their names, but I know them. I wear my nametag all the time, so most of them know my name. I remember many details of their lives even if I can’t always remember their names.
We are slowly settling in. I’m finding my niches here and there. Readjusting since Ron’s stroke and coming more and more to appreciate the grace and mercy of GOD! I find people who haven’t found their spots to serve and trying to help them find where they fit.
I face a new decade with great resources
So, as I face a new decade, I’m in a good position. I have a good GOD, a great church where I can serve and worship and be ministered to. I also live near some of my family and an easy day’s drive from more family. The final part of our family is a flight away. That is children and grandchildren of course.
I don’t know what this decade will bring. I know I won’t be getting any stronger or healthier. I will be moving closer to the time I will join Jesus in heaven. I can bank on that for sure…we all can! But with the time I have left, I can encourage my children and grandchildren to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. That I can do.
I can encourage women in my church and around me to grow in their knowledge of GOD’s Word…in applying the truth of it to their lives, to pray, to grow in the community of believers in Christ in our local church so we can move out in mission around us.
I can volunteer as I am now in my community with Ron. It’s how I’ve gotten to know some of the children in my grandchildren’s school. It’s how we have learned parts of our city we didn’t know before as we help deliver meals for Meals on Wheels.
So I have much to be thankful for at the beginning of my 7th decade. Yes, I have a few aches and pains. Ron’s health isn’t what I would like as he nears the end of his 7th decade. But for the most part, we have more to be thankful for. GOD has given us a life that surpasses anything we could ever have imagined. There have been disappointments and joys, sorrows and delights.
But the opportunity to be part of ministering to His people and encouraging them? Priceless!
What about your life can you be thankful for?
What about GOD has encouraged you and given you hope for the future?
“Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
all the remnant of the house of Israel,
who have been borne by me from before your birth,
carried from the womb;
even to your old age I am he,
and to gray hairs I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear;
I will carry and will save.Isaiah 46:3-4
I am approaching the age of forty. Life is definitely not what I expected at this age. I love your outlook on life in your 7th decade. I hope the rest of us at Literacy Musing Mondays will take on your grateful outlook on life. I know I fail in the gratitude department!
i can tell you tami that gratitude doesn’t come naturally. maybe that is why GOD’s Word talks a lot about doing it often…because GOD knows how we are wired to NOT be thankful. we are much more like Israel was when they went through the desert. were they thankful to be alive? thankful to have survived the many challenges? thankful for the manna GOD provided? NO! they were just like we are. they wanted to be back in egypt so they could have the good food…forgetting the horrors of their slavery there!
as a child i used to hear those stories and think, “how could ‘they’ be so ungrateful?” but as an adult, i realize that is me! i am just exactly like they were! there is nothing like practice when it comes to being grateful:) i’m not as grateful as i want to be, but i’m more grateful than i was…by the grace of GOD!
Hmmmmmm — am about to reach the big 70 shortly, and perhaps a big move.
And like you, remember thinking 70 was OLD! I am grateful for Isaiah 46 — and for the hope that God is carrying me and will sustain me and mine in these uncertain times.
Our adult kids hit a rough patch recently, and I was stunned to realize how very little I could do to help them . . . EXCEPT pray — and trust their pain into His all-gracious hands!
Happy Birthday!
thanks barbara:) yes. with our adult kids, often “all” we can do is pray…hmmm. maybe it’s a lesson we needed to learn earlier:( i’m with you. it is difficult to remember that i can’t fix things for my kids…even less often than i think!
blessings during this challenging year of 70:)
This October I will turn 66 – your words were encouraging to me today. xo
i’m so glad susan. that is what i want. i’m sure that is one reason why GOD put me here…both on the earth, in my church and on the internet!
Martha, your images for the 7th decade make me excited to reach that age someday. May you have a blessed Birthday celebration with your dear friends and family.
thanks tara. the way a person prepares for their 7th decade is to plod through the earlier ones learning to receive what GOD gives. it does not come easily or naturally to me. my default is to be negative and to see the glass as 1/2 empty. the ability to encourage others, to see the good in hard times? all is from the work of GOD in my life as He has changed me…big time. He has used plenty of negative people to do it, but also encouragers too. He has used His word in many ways, and the people of GOD…but also those who don’t know or love GOD too! it is completely amazing how He works all of it for His own good purposes:)
Congrats on attaining this milestone and your determination to serve the Lord instead of just sitting back and taking what I’m sure would be a well-deserved rest. My own mother-in-law hit 70 last year and continues to inspire me with her service to the church and community. Our blogging community would be blessed if you shared this inspirational post at the Literacy Musing Mondays Linkup. #LMMLinkup http://www.foreverjoyful.net/?p=1018
i’ll be glad to leslie:)
Wow! What an effective advertisement for turning 70! You make it sound fun and fulfilling and full of well-founded hope!
Thank you for the day-brightener, dear lady!
i am certain that it will look the same or better for you kay:) there is no doubt!
Martha, This was such an encouraging post!
When I sat and pondered your category of the 7th decade, using that terminology made me realize how short life truly is and how important it is to redeem every decade.
Although I am in my 5th decade, you have spurred me on where I am at and helped me to look forward to future decades knowing my great God will continue to use me until He calls me home.
Thanks so much for sharing.
Blessings.
also, the interesting thing is that we have no idea how many decades we will have karen! only GOD knows how many days we have. we can trust Him for the days we have…and to get the things done that need to be done.
there is no doubt i have been truly blessed…a wonderful husband, not perfect, but a good man. 3 great daughters and their husbands. there are too many aspects to our lives that i couldn’t control, but GOD has blessed us immensely for sure! as i received notes and cards, i was reminded of it once again:)
Hi Martha, I’m your neighbour at Testimony Tuesday today- I didn’t have time to visit earlier but glad that I can now. I hope you’re having a lovely birthday and enjoying your celebrations. I enjoyed reading your reflections here.
thanks carly. yes, i enjoyed writing it. it was good for me to write it out. the celebrations this year have been quiet, but very meaningful. i have been quite touched.