Do you see growing older as a gift or misfortune? Perhaps, you feel grateful to be alive? Yet when the mind and body don’t quite work as they used to, you become discouraged and focused on the negative of advancing in years. Sometimes we need a little reminder to help us refocus and see the blessings of adding another year to our lives.
With a milestone birthday approaching, it is a great time to evaluate my love-hate relationship with aging. One part of me recognizes growing older is a gift, but there is a lingering feeling of misfortune. Do you share any of these thoughts?
One memory, in particular, stands out that always helps me remember that growing older is a gift and to be embraced with gratitude.
Growing older is a gift to embrace with gratitude. #growingolder #mareedee #gift Click To TweetThe Gift of Life
The evening had grown late, and Sarah quietly asked, “Maree will you help me with something upstairs?” I quickly nodded, unsure what was so important that she was willing to leave our families behind.
She requested, “Please grab Noah and meet me in his room in a few minutes.”
Noah was her baby boy, a toddler full of energy, born years after our older children. She had shocked us with the news of her third child after cribs, diapers, and bottles became a thing of the past. Yet, Noah was a gift in so many ways.
Time with Noah, and her other children, was rapidly coming to an end, and her heart ached that He may never remember her. My dear friend had cancer, the kind with a slim survival rate.
Determined to Live Life
I swooped Noah up in my arms as he wrangled a bit, wanting to stay up like the big kids. As I approached the stairs, I caught a glimpse of my sweet friend pulling with all her might to climb that last step. The simple things I took for granted took effort for her. But there she was, eyes sparkling with determination and a sweet smile.
“Could you please help me put his jammies on, brush his teeth, and tuck him in?”
As I wrestled with this little one full of energy, I saw her clearing away the toys on the floor, making a spot to sit. We joined her in the middle of cars and trains as Noah quickly ran around, showing us one plaything after another. Giggles abounded between us all.
Then it became quiet as she rested her back against the wall. Her little one climbed up in her lap as she cradled her baby boy and began to read ever so softly. Together they turned the pages.
A Sacred Moment
The moment felt sacred as I watched, knowing this mamma had pulled all her energy together and asked for help to savor the parts of motherhood that so many of us take for granted. She knew her days were limited and her strength scarce for such moments.
As I watched this young mamma seize the moment and live life to its fullest, I had no idea that one day this would be the catalyst to inspire me to see growing older as a gift.
She rapidly declined as cancer ate away at her vibrancy until she took her last breath. However, she lived more life in those remaining two years than most ever do, as she seized the moments of vitality.
So when I linger in the mirror a little too long, complaining of those deep lines on my face, or when I receive news from the doctor that there are signs of aging, I will remember the Lord blessed me with another day. Yes, we will slow down as we grow older, but to live another day is a gift to savor.
12 Ways to Grow Older Gracefully
However, looking at life as a gift won’t be enough to sustain us or bring value to our later years. We must choose to grow older with grace. Will you decide with me to grow older with grace?
We can do this by choosing to—
- live in the moment
- practice gratitude and count each day as a gift
- laugh, play, and celebrate often
- connect with family and friends
- stop judging yourself and others
- keep learning new things
- take care of your health: exercise and eat well
- accept the changes (be you)
- keep your attitude in check
- stay curious
- practice forgiveness
- grow closer to God
What helps you grow older with grace?
“When granted many years of life, growing old in age is natural, but growing old with grace is a choice. Growing older with grace is possible for all who will set their hearts and minds on the Giver of grace, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
–Billy Graham
The Many Gifts of Growing Older
The blessings of growing older are numerous, and when we continue to count them as gifts, the misfortunes of aging start to pale. After all, don’t you love the wisdom that comes with age? And how the goodness of God seems to become so evident.
“When we age, we shed many skins: ego, arrogance, dominance, pessimism, rudeness, selfish, uncaring … Wow, it’s good to be old!”
–Stephen Richards
(Psalm 92:13-15 NLV)
Do you see growing older as a gift or misfortune? What blessings have you received?
Together let’s count each day as a gift and age with grace. #gift #grace #growingolder Click To TweetGrace & Truth Christian Link-Up
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Such a great reminder to focus on being thankful for all that we have in Christ – and I love the Emmerson quote, making a note of that one!
Thankfulness is a huge help for me but I have to admit that lately it’s been a struggle while dealing with some physical pain. But I do know how much it helps. I’m going to make a point to name at least three things at the end of my day before I close my eyes.
I hope you had a wonderful weekend.
Maree
Maree Dee, I love your focus on the positives of this stage of life that many people feel disdain for. One way to grow older with grace: look for opportunities to encourage others. As we seek to uplift others, we experience uplift ourselves.
Nany, I love the idea you added—”to look for opportunities to encourage others.” It is so true the more we give to others, the better we feel. Blessings, Maree
After doing life with my Mom in her final years, watching her struggle with pain and disability, I am struggling with the whole aging thing. 68 looms around the corner and I’m finding it hard to believe how quick life is passing. It makes me sad. I want to turn back the hands of time …
It is so hard when we have to struggle with pain and disability. It definitely does make it harder to see growing older as a blessing. Life sure does pass by quickly. There are some parts I would love to go back to and other parts glad to see them in my past. Praying blessings over you, Linda, as you head towards 68. Maree
Wow, this story is both encouraging and convicting at the same time. Thanks for sharing it with us, Maree. It helps me remember to see aging as a blessing, not a curse. (There are days when I wonder which it is.) I love the quote by Stephen Richards, too. So true! I want to continue shedding those skins and be glad to be old.
I’ll be sharing this as the featured post on my blog this Friday. I appreciate you and your wise heart!
Oh, Lisa, I am right there with you on some days questioning whether aging is a blessing or a curse. However, I am so glad to know we can choose. Thankful our paths have crossed and we get to do age together. Counting that blessing today!
Thank you for featuring my post. I am so glad it spoke to you.
Maree
Maree, this is such a beautiful post. Sara’s story tugged at my heart. We don’t realize the gifts we have until we are going to lose them. Sometimes, we need a perspective shift to realize the gifts we have. Hubs and I are beginning to feel the effects of growing older. But, yes, I am thankful for each day I can choose to be present with my family. Each day I can spend with my parents, who are now in their 80s. Thank you for the suggestions we can practice as we grow older. I especially resonate with being present. Though my sons don’t appreciate this, Hubs and I realize this is one of the best gifts we can offer each other.
Yes, so true, “ We don’t realize the gifts we have until we are going to lose them.” And I agree with you on our presence being such a gift. I sure do appreciate it when others are 100% there with me. I’m trying to practice that this weekend while away with my husband. Blessing to you. Maree
Beautiful post Maree! So important that we chose to age gracefully and with gratitude!!
Thank you, Susan. Prayers are with you as you choose to age gracefully with gratitude. I hope you are enjoying a beautiful weekend. Maree
Maree, what a beautiful article. This was such a blessing for me to have read today. I remember when I was younger and I guess vain-ish being sad with milestone birthdays. I thought I’d have a meltdown when I turned 50 a couple years ago but I didn’t. I couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t bothered by it. Then I realized from growing in Jesus over the years and reading in his Word that aging is an honor. I’ll be 52 this summer and I can’t wait to see where he takes me in my walk and writing for him.
Visiting today from G&T
Yes, you are so right aging is an honor. Haha, the one milestone that bothered me the most, which seems so silly now, was when I turned 30 which was quite a long time ago. I think you have a great point about growing with Jesus. Thank you for sharing your beautiful thoughts. Maree
Beautiful Maree. I am 63 and have been struggling some with this – feeling youthful but with my body with aging, not so. Then I thought, well, I am young in an eternal sense yet at the same time older in an earthly way.
Oh, Deborah, I love what you said, “I am young in an eternal sense yet at the same time older in an earthly way.” Now, that is a wonderful thought to hang on to. Thank you for the inspiration. Maree
We learn a lot from the dying. I am older now than my late (older) brother when he passed. Also, it’s been 8 years since my best-friend’s passing. It makes me reflect, and wonder if I am living out my days to the fullest (could be doing better)! With age, I have learned connecting with my family is a blessing, never a chore (as it once did when I was much younger). Career wise I’ve had to battle “ageism” in the workforce, thinking I am not as valuable as a younger employee. But our value comes from God…He is right and good. Amen!
Lynn, Yes, we can learn so much from those who know their days are limited. I am so sorry for the losses you mentioned but glad you can gain wisdom on living life to the fullest. I too could always do better and have been pondering the lesson learned.
Thank you for mentioning our valude comes from God. Such a great reminder to keep at the forefront of our minds when we feel less valuable, especially in the workforce.
Lynn, thank you for your valuable comment. I hopoe you weekend is spectaclular. Mareee
This filled my eyes with tears for your sweet friend, I don’t always understand why some of us have to go when we are young and our children are young. I just celebrated a milestone birthday last October and I can feel how precious a gift the Lord had given me to even reach this point. My grandbabies are the joy of my life and I hope to have many years to enjoy them and watch them grow in the Lord. Thank you for this beautiful post Maree! Blessings sweet sister … 🙏❤️
Donna, I am with you I don’t understand why God allows mommas to be taken too soon. However, I try hard to trust he will bring good out of all circumstances.
I am so grateful God has blessed you with Grandbabies. I can’t wait until I experience that blessing.
Thank you for your kind encouragement. It means the world to me.
Maree
Ahhh, aging gracefully Maree is a challenge for us all.
For me it’s about ‘The Bonus Years’ shared in;
https://teawithjennifer.blog/2023/01/13/the-bonus-years/
Blessings sweet friend, Jennifer 💖
Jennifer- Thank you for sharing “The Bonus Years.” Thanking God for you right now. Maree
Aww, thank you Maree that is very sweet!
I just had a milestone birthday last year. It’s a shock how quickly the years add up! And there’s so much I want to do while I still can.
I heard a preacher say once that one reason our bodies start failing as we get older is to make us more willing to let loose of them. I think there is something to that. Each ache or new physical issue is a reminder that our time is limited and we need to be ready for eternity.
I think my biggest problem with getting older is the perception of others. We don’t want to be thought out-of-touch and irrelevant. But I take comfort in the verse about still bearing fruit in old age. As long as God has us here, He has something to do through us.
Wow, Barbara, I love what the preacher said. Also, let me assure you that you have lots of important wisdom to share. Over the last few days, I have been taking in many of your words.
I think it’s a lie we tell ourselves that we are no longer significant, and if we aren’t careful, we begin to believe it.
Blessings,
Maree
This touched me. Thank you for sharing your experience with that young mother. It really puts aging in perspective. Great quotes too.
Yes, when you experience someone young leaving this earth, it sure can help to recognize the blessing of aging. Thank you for your encouragement. Maree
I took care of my mother and her later years when she had dementia. I definitely see growing older as a gift. I try to remember how my mother handled everything with dignity. I strive to be like her every single day.
Deborah, What a beautiful example your mom was; it sounds like you take after her. So glad you were able to care for her. I imagine many blessings and struggles were involved in caring for her. Blessings, Maree
Aging is a transition that somehow arrives faster than wee expect, I think. My post today reflects a bit on this as well. If we are living life to the fullest each day, it sometimes doesn’t really hit us until we get AARP and Medicare ads or when we suddenly fall prey to an ailment related to age or an accident. The gift comes when we recognize that all along each day has been a gift from the time we were born and there is no guarantee how many days we will have. Some of us never get to age and others of us have many more years. Whichever is true for us, learning to steward our days, our health, and our relationships and never take a moment for granted is key. Your milestone birthday is one that I see in my rearview mirror and see the changes that occurred since then and appreciate the grace that comes to face each of those just like every other transition and season.
Pam. Your wisdom shines bright. I love what you said, “learning to steward our days, our health, and our relationships and never take a moment for granted is key.” Thank you, my friend, Maree