Graceful Aging

Today’s message was written by my friend Rev. Charlie Landreth

You are probably familiar with the famous Delaney sisters, who, at the ages of 103 and 105 published their first book, entitled, Having Our Say. In the book, they reported on their daily routine. 

Here is what Sadie said:

“The first thing I do when I open my eyes is smile and then I say, Thank you Lord for another day …and then I go to Bessie’s room and try to wake her up. Sometimes I have to knock on her headboard. Finally, she will open her eyes, sometimes she will say, Oh, Lord another day?”

Near the end of Having Our Say, the interviewer asks: “Do you ever think about death?” Sadie answers:

“You know, when you are this old, you don’t know if you are going to wake up in the morning or not. But I don’t worry about dying, and neither does Bessie. We are at peace. You do kind of wonder when it’s going to happen. That’s why you learn to love each day, child.”

Paul says to the Corinthian Christians, “So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure…….” (2 Corinthians 4: 16-17)

There are ways to get it right, this business of living a human life fully and coming to its end in a state of grace. I believe that this God-given grace is the capacity to love and be happy; to think and to create; to serve and to care; to hope and to handle whatever needs to be handled. May God bless you in this endeavor.

Let us pray: You alone are my hope, loving God. Now that I am old and gray, God, do not desert me. Be present with me and share your love and strength with me this day. Amen