GROWING OLD GRACEFULLY - Our lives have their seasons, and trying to cling to one may mean we miss out on another - Growing old is regarded as a defeat. Youth is good, old age is bad. This leads some to seek to preserve their youthfulness. Such a desire allows cosmetic surgeons to take lavish holidays and lets cosmetic manufacturers accrue large profits. And yet our bodies will inevitably grow old. Joints deteriorate, skin wrinkles, our senses fade. This can be extremely distressing or it can be merely inconvenient. But trying to turn back the tide of ageing is futile and frustrating. Agreed, we take the best possible care of ourselves and we take care with our appearance whatever age we may be. However, there are limits. Someone who desperately tries to look youthful may end up looking rather silly. It becomes a game of pretense. To consistently cast longing glances at our past youthfulness may mean we miss out on the special aspects of growing older. Rather, in every phase of our life we will, with God’s wisdom, act our age.

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Growing old gracefully

Our lives have their seasons, and trying to cling to one may mean we miss out on another

By David Reay

“The glory of youths is their strength, but the beauty of the aged is their gray hair.” (Proverbs 20:29 NRSV)

The search for some mythical elixir of youth is a recurring theme in literature.

Growing old is regarded as a defeat. Youth is good, old age is bad. This leads some to seek to preserve their youthfulness.

Such a desire allows cosmetic surgeons to take lavish holidays and lets cosmetic manufacturers accrue large profits.

And yet our bodies will inevitably grow old. Joints deteriorate, skin wrinkles, our senses fade.

This can be extremely distressing or it can be merely inconvenient. But trying to turn back the tide of ageing is futile and frustrating.

Agreed, we take the best possible care of ourselves and we take care with our appearance whatever age we may be.

However, there are limits. Someone who desperately tries to look youthful may end up looking rather silly. It becomes a game of pretense.

To consistently cast longing glances at our past youthfulness may mean we miss out on the special aspects of growing older.

Our lives have their seasons, and trying to cling to one may mean we miss out on another.

We certainly won’t become fatalistic and gloomy about growing old. We will not give up on life because of our mortality.

Rather, in every phase of our life we will, with God’s wisdom, act our age.

Blessings
David Reay

Hope 103.2 is Sydney radio’s non-denominational, Christian FM station. We broadcast mainstream and Christian contemporary music, and entertaining shows. Programs include lifestyle and current-affairs interviews and a series of popular inspirational segments.

Our style is modern, lighthearted and family-friendly with a focus on the community. Popular shows include Breakfast with Duncan and our LifeWords Q&A Podcast with David Reay.

Hope 103.2 helps people lead hopeful lives through fun entertainment, helpful content, uplifting experiences and a unique connection with their community.

If you want to listen to Sydney radio, find us on 103.2 MHz of the FM band. Anywhere else in the world, listen to entertaining Christian radio live online.

https://hope1032.com.au/stories/faith/2016/growing-old-gracefully/

Proverbs 20:29 Amplified Bible (AMP)

^“ The glory of young men is their [physical] strength,
And the honor of aged men is their gray head [representing wisdom and experience].”

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+20%3A29&version=AMP