growing old

There are a lot of older folk in our congregation. I spend a fair bit of time with them, calling by to see them in their homes, and seeking to be a pastor to them in these 'twilight' years of their lives.

It's not easy growing old, that's for sure. I was seeing a man today who's hearing is going, whose sight is going, and whose mobility is also going.

He can't really read any more (he was a great reader): he can't really engage in conversation much (he was great company): and he can't really get around (he was a very active man).

Growing old is hard.

I came across this the other day from a guy called Kevin DeYoung. Kevin DeYoung is a young man (by which I mean he's younger than me!), but he's wise with it. And what he has to say about this business of growing old is perceptive, challenging, and (I hope) really helpful.

This is what he wrote -

2 Chronicles 16.10-14 record the last stubborn days of a great king. Asa was a grumpy old man. His major offense? He got a disease in his feet and didn’t ask the Lord for help. Now, there’s nothing wrong with going to doctors. God wants us to be wise. But he also wants us to trust him – more than counselors, therapists, doctors, and pills – and trust him to the end.

There are two types of old Christians. There are those who fret and fuss about how bad things have gotten and how rotten kids are these days. These cantankerous old rascals don’t like the church’s music, people, or pastor.

But then there are Christians who, like fine wine, get better with age. They pray more. They get wiser and kinder. They understand what really matters. They love the Lord and every day they read their big print Bibles with the devotional tucked in as a book mark. They pray for their kids and grandkids without ceasing. They’re a pastor’s best friend and they long to be with Jesus. These are the un-Asa-like believers the church desperately needs.

So for all those out there heading into life’s last lap, what type of senior saint will you be – crotchety or Christlike?

It's challenging, that. But it's also meant as an encouragement. If you get to live into those 'senior' years, you can choose to be a blessing or a burden. And it's not our health or our needs which determine that choice.

It's our attitude.