Never Too Old

Never Too Old

Sarah, Miriam, Elizabeth, Anna

As I listened to my younger friend moan about her approaching birthday, I didn’t want to do the math. I had reached the point where each year brought some new surprise—appointments with a chiropractor for back pain, bifocals, and orthotics in my shoes for fallen arches. What was next—duct tape to hold my body together? I had finally admitted to a marked decrease in energy and a definite increase in weight, and sometimes I had trouble catching all the words in a conversation. Guess I should count my blessings, such as blonde highlights instead of gray streaks, I laughed to myself.

We don’t look forward to aging, but God sometimes reserves very special events for a woman’s later years. At the age of ninety, Sarah gave birth to Isaac, whose descendants were the Jewish people. Miriam was around ninety when she helped her younger brothers, Moses and Aaron, lead the vast throng of Israelites to the Promised Land. Elizabeth was advanced in age when she became pregnant with John the Baptist, who was destined to prepare people for Jesus’ coming. Anna may have been a hundred or more when she was privileged to see the promised Messiah after his birth.

In our youth-obsessed culture, it’s easy to forget that aging carries a positive connotation in the Bible. If we belong to God, then each year offers an opportunity to grow in wisdom and become more like Christ. What is it about aging that frightens us so much—loss of attractiveness? Potential health problems? The possibility of feeling lonely and useless? These may be valid concerns, but God’s promises trump all our worries. He promises to take care of us throughout our lives and beyond, when we will go to be with him. Who knows what exciting events he has planned for our later years?

Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.

Psalm 92:14