Sunday, July 1, 2001
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Sunday, July 1, 2001 |
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Are there benefits to growing old? By DR. DAVID L.
CHANCEY
This time last year, I was writing about feeling slightly older as we graduated our oldest child from high school, gained our third teenager, and licensed our second teenage driver. My, how time flies! Now I'm feeling even older as we've graduated our second daughter from high school, helped our third daughter gain her learner's permit, and prepare for our son to enter middle school this fall. I know time marches on, and it's suppose to be this way. We rejoice in each success and celebrate each rite of passage. But, my, the years seem to speed on. This year is half over! It's almost time to think about Christmas lists! School will be back in session before you know it! I'll qualify for AARP before I know it! As I begin to feel older, I'm reminded once again that the Bible refers to age as an honor. When Abraham died, the writer stated that Abraham died "in a good old age, an old man and full of years" (Gen. 25:8). In Leviticus 19:32 we read, "you shall rise to give honor before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man." Proverbs 20:29 reads, "The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is their gray head." You've heard how to know when we're growing older. You know you're getting older when you and your teeth don't sleep together; you try to straighten out the wrinkles in your socks and discover you're not wearing any; it takes two tries to get up from the couch; you sit in a rocking chair and can't get it going. Are there any benefits of growing older? Reflect on these: In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first. No one expects you to run into a burning building to rescue anyone. When people call at 9 p.m., they ask "did I wake you?" There's nothing left to learn the hard way. Things you buy now will not wear out. You enjoy hearing about other people's operations. You got cable so you could watch the Weather Channel. You have a party and the neighbors don't even realize it. You quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks into the room. You are not expected to keep up with technology nor understand it. You get travel and entertainment discounts. People come to you for help with their antique cars. Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either. You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge. Your congressman pays attention to you. People no longer view you as a hypochondriac. They think you're a representative from a pharmaceutical company when they see your collection of medicine bottles. You're the only one who recognizes the elevator music. You get to enjoy grandkids, and I hear that's a blast! Dr. David L. Chancey is pastor, McDonough Road Baptist Church in Fayetteville. The MRBC family invites you to join them this Sunday for Bible study at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 10:55 a.m. The church is located at 352 McDonough Road.
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