“He renews your youth—you’re always young in His presence." ~ Psalm 103:5
As my 70th birthday passes, I’m filled with
retrospection. In Jewish tradition, 70 years represents a lifetime. That’s a
lot of sunrises, a milestone that’s difficult to imagine at age 20, or even 40.
As the late Helen Hayes once said: “The hardest years are between 10 and
70!”
While I’ve been
blessed with good health, and still feel vigorous and enthusiastic about life, age
is creeping up on me. Thinning silver hair, sunspots, and lagging recall all mark
the passage of time.
Yet, when I smile in
the mirror, wrinkles curl up around my eyes and they don’t look half bad. Considering
how much laughter and many smiles it took to carve them so deeply, it brought
an even wider grin.
There’s mounting evidence. I used to buy shoes in size 9.
Now they fit snugly in size 10.5. My once-flat(ter) stomach has a small volleyball-like
inflation to it. Blood tests reveal more “abnormals” and “highs.” Health remains
the dominant topic of conversation among friends.
Suddenly I’m a
sentimental mess. Tears well up every time I hear John Denver’s’ “Take Me Home
Country Roads.” The same came with 1969 “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”
film. “Boy, I got vision and the whole world wears bifocals.” ~ Butch
Aging causes hormonal
changes that affect our emotions. It also brings a greater appreciation for
life’s preciousness, its fragility, its wonder. We’re here to make a difference
with our lives and God smiles down upon us every time we do. No act of love or
kindness is too small either. As Emily Dickinson once wrote: “If I can stop
one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain.”
The relief of freedom
of time and responsibility does battle the urge to eat healthier. The body
yields more clues about what’s good for you (kale) and bad (a third glass of
Malbec). But as Woody Allen said, “You can live to be a hundred (years old) if
you give up all things that make you want to live to be a hundred.”
This blog isn’t to boast about a good life but to thank God
for His amazing grace. He’s strengthened me through every trial and cheered
each success. No matter your age, remember that even though your outward self
is aging, your inner soul renews with every breath. Each day offers a new start,
a chance for another birthday.
Embrace them all. Fill them with goodness. Live them boldly
with smiles and laughter. Be kind, share all the love you can, and make God proud.
For my friends turning seventy soon, cherish the milestone with open arms,
knowing your life has been a tapestry of remarkable moments and a reminder of
the many lives you’ve touched.
Big Dawg out.
