Aging gracefully, living my life in a way that truly shows the presence of God’s grace, means deliberately planning my way knowing that his constant guidance directs my every step (Proverbs 16:9).
God’s grace in my life equates to his favor (Genesis 6:8) and His forgiving mercy (Romans 11:6). His grace is the source of my salvation (Acts 15:11). His all-abundant (Romans 5:15-20) and all-sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9) grace is something I can abound in (Romans 5:2), be strong in (2 Timothy 2:1), and grow in (2 Peter 3:18).
Using a biblical perspective, aging gracefully means:
- Embracing aging and using it to inspire & instruct others. (Titus 2)
- Getting to know God increasingly more. (2 Peter 3:18)
- Stepping outside my comfort zone regularly. (2 Kings 5:1-16 & Matthew 14:22-33)
- Sharing how God’s favor has worked and continues to work in my life. (Genesis 6:8)
- Showing His power through my weaknesses. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
When His grace that gets the glory, embracing the idea of aging gracefully becomes not only a way to help me come to terms with inevitable aging but also help keep Him as the focus of all that I am and do.
@Vaderalman
Kari,
You are much ahead of most people who want to make an impact with their lives. The 5 things you list are excellent pursuits. While you might not put smart goals to each of those plans I believe you will have to have some sort of framework to be able to achieve things of worth in those areas. Just having the list makes them become conscious in your mind which is of benefit. It may be that you focus on one of the areas at a time but to achieve results I think you will have to have some active planning at some point and those become goals of some sort. I really think God wants us to fill in the blanks and be open to him directing elsewhere within or outside of our plans. I am opened to be convinced otherwise. You seem to be one who does a lot of planning and I think you achieve a lot from doing so. As you have said in past post you have to make adjustments with personal goals and create balance between your set plans and things that pop up and make you reconsider and change your goal and the steps you have laid out to achieve it.
I am thinking just because Deb MacComber’s list included people that were a major disappointment did that make her goal not worthy? A lot can be said about learning from disappointment. Also I assume there were some outside of the major disappointments that she may not have met otherwise. So I am thinking about this thought of leaving things blank. I think God treats us like adults and expects us to act thus and part of that is making decisions I believe. So I struggle with the thought of leaving things blank. I more like what you said about creating balance and making adjustments as needed. Your thoughts?
Kari Scare
As usual, Mark, you are getting me to really think more and go further with what I write about. Thank you for that. So, with that being said, I need to pray and think on what you said as it applies to the post. I will respond in more detail after I have done that. On a related note, a concern of mine is that these rather personal posts of mine are of no help to others. I worry that they are too much of me just sorting things out for myself. Do you see them that way? Thanks again for your honesty.
Kari Scare
Just wanted you to know that I am still processing your comment (praying, thinking, etc.). I came across this post https://mail.google.com/mail/?tab=wm#inbox/13949b… that speaks well to what you said about God treating us like adults.
Mary McCauley
Hey Kari, Yes, you can look forward to being 40! Sometimes we don't even really understand the PLANS God has for our lives. We think we need to control the journey. While I make many lists, part of getting old, if it is not on a list it gets forgotten, I never put travel in a semi on a list that was written. I knew it was something I once hoped to do, but never dreamed it would come true. Now with failing vision and a huge life change that is where God has me. And what a blessing.
The best part is I did not orchestrate it! I was plugging along doing God's work when my life suddenly changed and here I am, enjoying a surprise and blessing.
I do like your list and scriptures, because when it comes to goals like writing more these are important. Also in making changes to life. so keep writing my dear!
Kari Scare
We need to make plans and then be flexible when God decides something different. When our plans are birthed out of prayer, we are often right on with the lists we make. Yet, God also doesn't tell us everything, and we sometimes don't hear Him correctly when He tells us other things. Flexibility is important. When I was decided how to lay out my blog and plan the posts, a friend of mine cautioned me about making too firm of plans. She suggested that I leave some openness to allow the Holy Spirit to move more freely. He's a gentleman. Wise advice, I think. This is how I came to have Sunday Reflections too. Anyway, I am still struggling with this birthday, but I am also getting into the idea that God has amazing plans for me on the other side of it! Thanks again for your encouragement.
@Vaderalman
Kari,
If you don’t talk about you; who you gonna talk about? And if you don’t get personal and talk about the struggles, the ugly, the good, the victories, the heart ache, the joys what are you going to talk about?? I do not think people come to blogs like yours to get vanilla. They want all flavors and something you struggle with maybe just what a person needs to read about and think about. They may not even comment and you most likely affect people you never know about. Personal resonates with people. If you are not honest and transparent then it is obvious and people do not want that. I like Jon Acuff’s blog SCL but I don’t always read it because I do not always want to be entertained. I almost always like to read blogs like yours about a person’s authentic life and what’s knocking them around. I think your post are most helpful.
Kari Scare
Good question. I just don't want to deceive myself. I also get into the comparison game too much sometimes. When I lose my focus, even for brief moments, I begin to doubt my purpose. Just needed help with a gut check today. Thank you!
WSM
As I age, I am constantly reminded that the best way to stay flexible is to STRETCH !!!! So , I try to embrace God stretching me because I know it will keep me flexible. Which, in turn helps me to accept HIS plans for me, as well of allowing Him to interupt mine. Hopefully, remaining graceful along the way.
Kari Scare
Great words of advice. Reading a book now that talks about stretching and trying new things as a way to stay sharp mentally and to age gracefully. I think you just gave me an outline for a future blog post. Always teaching!
tnealtarver
Kari, sometimes it's good to hear the echo. Your repeating my comment (which really was Deb MacComber's wisdom) deepens the truth and excites me to see what God brings my way. It's the open-palm approach to life, holding all things loosely so God can put in or take out what He desires. Good words as usual.
Kari Scare
Love the phrase "open palm approach." Good chance I will be using that in the future. My accountability partner and I were just talking about the value of repetition in our lives. God sure knew we needed it!
Loren Pinilis
I love #3 and #5. I see so many just "settle in" in their 40's and 50's, but you're seeking to continually grow. That's an awesome testimony.
Kari Scare
Once again, thank you for the encouragement. I want to do all I can to finish the race strong and to run "as if" I am winning. That seems to be turning into a motto of mine.
How to… Overcome Frustration – I don’t know, do you? | Struggle to Victory
[…] “How to…” posts I’ve written stem from a need in me to figure something out. For example, How to… Age Gracefully came about as I struggle to accept my middle-age status, and How to… Be Encouraging Just by Being […]
VLC
Words of wisdom! Loved this post and your insight into aging gracefully..something not so easy for many.