'Age Gets Involved'

"Age gets involved. "That's what my dad said. One of his more profound observations as he was declining with Alzheimer's. I don't know altogether what happens during the aging process. There are plenty of articles online if you want to read about this process, but the jist of it is gradual physical and mental decline. Of course, Dr. Gundry and all the rest of the people trying to sell you eternal youth will try to tell you these things are not a sign of aging at all. People like to say, "Age is just a number," which is about the silliest thing I've ever heard and probably only believed by young people; wishful thinking, as it were. The truth is, age is not "just a number." Very real changes occur that you have to deal with. Some people age earlier than other people. Everyone is different. People don't usually "feel" old as they age, and this can be very confusing. Some people like to say, "You're only as old as you feel." Well, that's also kind of impossible. One day I might feel 16, and another day I might feel 30, but the thing is, just because I feel that way doesn't make it so, and you can definitely feel different ages at different times and under different circumstances. Tonight, for example, I would like to get to bed earlier than midnight, which is what I like to do. Why? Because I get tired when I don't get enough sleep, and I have to work and I have to be alert and energetic. So, this entry is not going to be very long. I don't really know what's in store for me with my writing. I read today about someone's journal being a lot like my blog. One day it will be a song or a poem, one day, a Bible study, one day a little essay like this one. Just to write something every day is the goal. Not edited much, just seeing where it goes. So, I have been thinking about age a lot lately. Earlier I looked up Bible references for "tired." That's how I was feeling before I went and rode the bike while my clothes were in the dryer. That woke me up a little, but after work I felt exhausted and tried to take a nap, but it didn't work. I was just tired. I hoped I would feel better after riding the bike at the gym. I did, and I do, but I still want to write a little something about "tired." I don't know if it has anything to do with age or not. The kids at school are always complaining about being tired, and a lot of times they tell me how late they stay up, and that tells me, we kind of share this problem. But anyway, as for "tired," here's what I found: Matthew 11:28-30 says,"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." In John 4, when Jesus met the woman at the well, he was tired. "Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well" (John 4:6). What follows is the wonderful interaction Jesus had with the woman who had been married four times and the man she was living with now was not her husband. The reference to this is encouraging, especially when he says, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water" (John 4:10). The disciples were tired in Matthew 26, when Jesus was about to go to be crucified. "Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, 'What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:40-41). Isaiah 40:30-31..."Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." Paul writes to the church in Galatia, "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:9-10). Isaiah 45:4 promises, "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he." and (my favorite promise in the Bible) David writes, "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's" (Psalm 103:1-5). So, this last one is my favorite verse about age getting involved. God has promised us to he would be with us "in our old age," and one more, the verse about being "old and grayheaded." David says, "Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come" (Psalm 71:18, NKJV). So, I guess these verses really say everything I need to know about aging. It happens, yes, but not only all these verses but Jesus says a the end of the book of Matthew that he will be with us until the "end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). So now, that is all I have for tonight and I am not tired but I have to go to sleep. Goodnight.