What? Yes! there is a special joy as your days bring Heaven closer. Remember Christmas morning when you dug into your stocking to find all the little treasures inside? The best was always deep into the toe. For a child of the King, the best, after much anticipation, comes last! Check out the Bible's list of Godly men and prophets -- Noah was 80 when he began building God's ark. Abraham became first of Jesus's earthly lineage because he was given a child in his 80s. Years of faith and obedience led to blessed accomplishments--in Moses' life and many others.
As your 9th decade looms on your horizon, you become hyper-aware of the many blessings God has brought you during your journey. You may become aware that your memories seem to cluster around one Godly attribute or another which remain, celebrated and fresh, in your memory. Thanks to arthritis or other such frequent companions, we now have time to sit and remember our long relationship with our King, to pray for those we love who need His presence in their lives, to begin our eternal life praising our Lord even before we join that huge choir at His throne.
Some of us find our aging mind concentrating on how others treat us; others--children of Royalty--tend to focus on good memories, remembering times we have treated others well and been blessed and acknowledge God's hand of protection, guidance, and love.
Some may still feel resentment for slights and hurt feelings in a glow of self-pity for all the suffering they have survived-- but the point He wants us to remember is not the pain, but that He was with us, and we survived, a little stronger than the day before! Perhaps He has noticed we are lagging behind on the golden trait of forgiving. And then He reminds us of those forgotten times when we failed Him and came to Him for forgiveness. or have hurt someone and been forgiven. And we remember all that Jesus suffered without complaint the penalty as He paid the sin death we earned,
Sometimes for example, when He discerns our need for gratitude, he brings to mind all the narrow escapes He brought us through or all the good times we have shared in His prese4nce. We may or may not clearly recall details of blessings bestowed over a lifetime, but we will remember all the sudden growth spurts in our spirit, or days we felt His hand holding us up in times of extreme pain, fear or despair--He was surely there--we survived, right?
Earthly friends may desert you or be unavailable or dealing with their own problems, just when you desperately reach out for their help. No one was there for Jesus in His last moments here on earth and He resolves that no one belonging to Him will ever be completely alone or helpless, but always safe in His hand, softening the blows this world delivers and holding us close, promising to wipe away our tears and bring us joy in His presence forever.
Today's crises will be forgotten as we reject worry and doubt sent by the enemy and give our hearts, minds and spirit into Jesus's never-ceasing watch care. And no matter how bad yesterday was, it was not all bad: now you're now a day closer to Heaven!
Trust with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. Proverbs 3:5-6
I will love those who love me and those who seek me diligently will find me. Proverbs 8:17
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” 1 Timothy 6:6-9 NIV
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