Gotta Love It!!!

This old people place cracks me up!

We are used to what Nina calls our daily organ recital where we share our aches and pains, therapies and surgeries. Ad nauseam.

We are used to hearing about kids who are taking away privileges of driving or other activities that will put ourselves or others at risk. We hear way too often what someone doesn’t like about the day’s menu. Nothing new there.

But nothing prepared me for today’s surprise!

We all love Ms. Sarah. I’m not sure how old she is, but she is still really sharp mentally. She is so cute coming to pick up her meals with a different hat most every day that matches her outfit. Until the other day, she was successfully going up the slope to the clubhouse where we get our meals.

The other day, she was doing it alone. She fell on her back and busted her head open. After a few days, this perky old lady is fighting for all she’s worth to stay as independent as possible. What a wonderfully spunky example for all of us grumpy old complainers!

Well …

We were sitting in the lunchroom and Ms. Sarah rides in on her brand new, fancy dan scooter. And let’s say, she hasn’t quite got the hang of it yet! Scared the liver out of us! I couldn’t help but guffaw. You can tell by her face how fun and determined she is.

Her daughter was having to hustle to keep up with her. I wonder if they should put a regulator on it before she runs it without supervision. Sometimes, we old ladies do tend to speed!

Funny stuff.

I had to giggle as I searched for verses for today’s object lesson. 1 Corinthians 9:24 says, ‘Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.’

As two guys were coming to breakfast on their scooters this morning, they both reached the stop sign at the same time. I hollered, ‘Ready, Set, Go!’ One zoomed on up to the clubhouse. The other took his time. I’ll bet by the end of the week, Ms. Sarah will beat them both!

More on a serious note, when we see ourselves aging, we have daily choices to accept the aging process with grace or fight the process inappropriately. The mind has to choose reality – we cannot stop or reverse the aging process.

Dealing with aging can take many forms. We can carry on in unhealthy physical, emotional ways or by flat out rebelling against societal expectations or restrictions. We can depend too much on advice from those around us or Dr. Google. Living in an old people place can find one trying to conform to the ‘normal’ notions of age appropriateness –  a tough one for the more independent of us. That means stubborn and self-willed in case you are wondering.

On the other hand, we can challenge ourselves to become the best we can be at this age. We can keep learning, reading, eating wisely, and exercising regularly. Faithfully wearing our hearing aids has been proven to keep our minds sharper and slow deterioration. Though hard for me, interacting daily in ‘community’ is another way to make sure we are healthy emotionally.

I’ll quote my daddy’s line about living and a most important factor in the aging process. ‘Make sure your heart’s right with the Good Lord.’  As we near eternity, drawing peace and guidance from God’s Word will lighten the angst of old age. Seeking Him as I study the Scripture seems to be pretty important before I take my ‘flying leap into eternity,’

Hebrews 4:16 TLB   ‘So let us come boldly to the very throne of God and stay there to receive His mercy and to find grace to help us in our times of need.’

Psalm 73:25-28 NKJV   ‘Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. … But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God.’

Think about it.